Explosions heard in Saudi capital as Middle-East conflict intensifies

According to the AP, the Saudi-led military coalition said it intercepted cruise and ballistic missiles and drones targeting Riyadh, a ballistic missile targeting Dhahran, and a cruise missile targeting Al-Kharj[2].The AP reports that one resident lives in northern Riyadh, where King Khalid International Airport — targeted multiple times in the past week with strikes that have killed at least 18 people[2] — is located. An earlier AP version put the death toll at 17 people[3].The Houthis, the AP says, claimed attacks against King Khalid International Airport, oil facilities in the eastern city of Dhahran[4] and an Aramco refinery in Riyadh. They called the attacks retaliation for "treacherous Saudi aggression"[4].The AP reports that Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense said debris from two intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles fell on residential areas in Riyadh, injuring four people including a child[2].According to the AP, over 3,000 flights scheduled to depart from airports across Saudi Arabia have been canceled or listed as not operating in the past week[2], citing aviation analytics firm Cirium.The AP reports that regional officials say Saudi Arabia, the world's top purchaser of U.S. weapons, is running low on interceptors.[2]A Houthi official told the AP that powers including Russia and China had reached out to the rebels in search of a ceasefire deal[2]. The official said the Houthis are "ready for a comprehensive end of the war and the blockade from both sides"[2].