Explosions heard in Saudi capital as Middle-East conflict intensifies

According to Global News, fire and ambulance crews were being deployed, and smoke was visible, the witness said.[1] The witness told the outlet that outgoing flights were halted, and that passengers were instructed to evacuate the airport.[1]Global News also reports that, according to flight tracker Flightradar24, no planes have taken off or landed from Riyadh airport since shortly after noon local time.[1]The Associated Press, in a report carried by local US outlets, says Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen claimed the new attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, saying a ballistic missile caused damage.[2] The AP adds that they provided no evidence, and the Saudis had no immediate comment about the claim.[2]Euronews reports that Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency reported "material damage" to buildings from falling shrapnel after the interceptions.[3] The outlet also says diplomats were instructed to shelter in place in their respective embassies[3].According to Euronews, Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Malki said forces intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh and destroyed a platform in Yemen's capital of Sana'a[3].Euronews further reports that Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree wrote on X that "Employees at all oil facilities must leave areas that are targets for our forces"[3].The AP reported that the blasts had an immediate effect on markets and oil prices as the price of crude jumped.[4]