Riyadh: Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement on Thursday claimed it had launched a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, escalating tensions as fighting intensifies in Yemen.

The claim came hours after Saudi authorities said an earlier attack on the same airport had killed one person. Saudi Arabia had not immediately confirmed the latest Houthi claim.

Several explosions were heard in Riyadh on Thursday, including a large blast near the city's international airport. A witness told the Associated Press that flights were halted and passengers were asked to evacuate, while fire and ambulance crews were deployed.

The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh and another missile fired towards Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Flights disrupted as Riyadh goes on alert

Flight-tracking data showed numerous delays and disruptions at King Khalid International Airport. Some companies in Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District also told employees to work from home after the morning explosions, according to Reuters.

Some diplomats received warnings, while some schools reportedly told parents to shelter in place. Saudi authorities had not issued a public alert at the time of the Reuters report.

The Houthis have also warned international airlines against operating in Saudi airspace and threatened further attacks as the conflict expands.

Three killed in earlier airport attacks

The latest claim follows attacks on Saudi airports on Wednesday. Saudi officials said three people were killed in strikes on King Khalid airport in Riyadh and Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

The Riyadh attack killed a Sudanese national and wounded eight people, while the attack on Abha airport killed Moroccan and Algerian residents and injured 28 others, according to Saudi officials cited by AP.

Yemen war opens a wider regional front

The renewed violence follows Saudi Arabia's return to the Yemen conflict after the Houthis made territorial gains along the Red Sea coast and around the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have launched counter-attacks to regain territory around the strait. The Houthis, meanwhile, have continued to hold significant areas of Yemen and have made gains around Taiz.

The escalation is also drawing wider regional involvement. Saudi Arabia has sought support from allies including Turkey and Pakistan, while Syria is considering options for military assistance. Turkey has indicated that its support would mainly involve defensive and technical assistance.

Why the Riyadh airport attacks matter

The attacks are significant because they bring the renewed Yemen conflict directly into Saudi Arabia's capital and threaten a major civilian aviation hub. The disruption comes as the Houthis also threaten shipping around the Bab el-Mandeb, a key route for international trade and energy shipments.

The escalation is unfolding alongside disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that attacks on shipping have pushed Gulf markets lower and contributed to a rise in oil prices, adding to concerns over regional energy supplies.

For now, the latest attack on Riyadh airport remains a Houthi claim that Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed. However, the reported explosions, flight disruption and recent confirmed fatalities at Saudi airports indicate that the conflict is already having consequences beyond the battlefield in Yemen.