Explosions heard in Saudi capital as Middle-East conflict intensifies

A witness told The Associated Press that the blasts included a large one at the city's international airport.[2]The witness said fire and ambulance crews were sent and smoke could be seen.[3]The Flightradar24 monitor said on X that King Khalid International Airport had "closed again."[3]CNN reports that the Houthis claimed a new wave of attacks targeting two civilian airports — King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Najran Airport near the southern Saudi-Yemen border[4], as well as an air force base. According to CNN, images it verified showed smoke rising over Terminal 4 at King Khalid International Airport as well as what appeared to be a damaged Saudi aircraft[4].CNN says Saudi authorities did not confirm whether the airports were hit, but said they had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired toward Riyadh and that falling debris had damaged a kindergarten and a medical clinic[4].Euronews reports that diplomats were instructed to shelter in place in their respective embassies[5]. According to Euronews, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree also warned on X that "employees at all oil facilities must leave areas that are targets for our forces"[5].France 24 reports that Saudi authorities said on Wednesday that an Egyptian and an Algerian national were killed at Abha airport and a Sudanese national was killed at the airport in Riyadh[1], and that 36 people were wounded. The Saudi-led coalition said in a statement carried by France 24 that the attacks "will not go unpunished"[1].