Riyadh: More than a dozen ambulances were seen rushing to the airport following the explosion, while parts of the terminal were evacuated as emergency crews responded to the incident. Saudi authorities had not immediately issued a detailed statement on the number or condition of those injured.

The attack comes amid a fresh escalation in missile strikes linked to Houthi rebels. King Khalid International Airport has been targeted multiple times this week, including attacks that killed three Saudi citizens, among them a pilot, and injured several others.

Air traffic at the airport was halted following Saturday’s blast, with flight-tracking data showing inbound services either cancelled or diverted. Around 225 flights were reported cancelled over the previous 24 hours as operations faced severe disruption.

King Khalid International Airport also issued a travel advisory urging passengers to contact their airlines and confirm the status of their flights before travelling to the airport.

Several international carriers suspended or cancelled Riyadh services amid the security situation. Kuwait Airways said it had cancelled flights to and from the Saudi capital, while Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways were among the airlines affected by the disruption.

A Riyadh resident cited by the Associated Press reported hearing two loud explosions in the Saudi capital on Saturday.