Thick black smoke and flames rising from a fire at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Friday. An explosion at Riyadh's international airport has left several people injured, according to eyewitnesses, with more than a dozen ambulances seen rushing to the site. One witness said they saw a blast inside the airport before finding multiple people lying injured on the ground. Travellers were evacuated from parts of the facility following the incident on Saturday. Two other people briefed on the situation also confirmed the blast, while two Western diplomats said the airport had come under attack again, as reported by The New York Times. Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on the incident, and it was not clear how many people had been injured or what caused the explosion. The US embassy said it was "aware of attacks on King Khalid International Airport" and urged American citizens to avoid the airport and surrounding areas. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 showed flights bound for Riyadh being diverted or cancelled. The airport urged passengers to check their flight status with airlines before setting off. Kuwait Airways cancelled flights to and from the Saudi capital, citing the airport's closure amid the security situation. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways had also cancelled several services connecting Riyadh with their respective hubs, with some cancellations extending into Monday. The incident comes after a series of attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia this week. Previous strikes on airports in Riyadh and Abha reportedly killed at least four people, injured others and damaged an aircraft. The Houthis have warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it a zone of military operations. The group has described its attacks as retaliation for an offensive launched by Yemen's Saudi-backed government against its forces. The escalating conflict has drawn Saudi Arabia deeper into the wider regional war involving Iran, which backs the Houthis. Saudi warplanes have been carrying out strikes against the group in Yemen. The renewed attacks come as Riyadh prepares to host major international energy and investment gatherings, including the World Petroleum Congress, scheduled to open on Sunday, and the Future Investment Initiative later this month. Organisers have said the events will proceed as planned despite the security concerns, while offering attendees alternative travel arrangements. Rounak is a journalist with over 7 years of experience covering geopolitical and international affairs. He has a keen interest in research and explain... View More