Loud explosions rattle northern Riyadh near King Khalid International Airport as flights circle overhead

Loud explosions shook northern Riyadh late Monday, with residents and an AFP journalist reporting powerful blasts in an area not far from King Khalid International Airport.

One resident said the force of the explosion was strong enough to shake the windows of his home.

At the same time, flight-tracking data showed several aircraft circling or delaying their approaches around Riyadh, including planes holding northwest and southwest of the capital.

The cause of the explosions was not immediately confirmed by Saudi authorities.

The blasts come amid a sharp escalation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis, who have carried out repeated missile and drone attacks against targets inside the kingdom in recent weeks.

There was no immediate official confirmation that King Khalid International Airport itself had been struck, nor that the explosions were caused by incoming drones or missiles.

Flight operations appeared to continue, although some aircraft were seen entering holding patterns or delaying their approaches as the situation developed.

Authorities had not immediately reported casualties or damage.

The key development is the series of powerful explosions heard close to Riyadh’s main international airport, with the cause still under investigation.