Saudi Arabia has announced the suspension of operations at Riyadh airport after what it described as an "enemy" attack. This marks the third time this week that air traffic has been disrupted as the conflict with Yemen's Houthi rebels escalates.

Saudi civil aviation authorities stated that several people were injured and that airport operations would remain suspended while damage is assessed. The United States warned its citizens to avoid the airport. The United Kingdom described the latest incident as "serious," and airlines including Kuwait Airways cancelled flights to and from the airport.

According to data from flight tracking website Flightradar24, approximately 260 flights to and from Riyadh were cancelled on Saturday, with another 219 flights delayed. Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport issued a notice to travellers urging them to contact their airlines directly and confirm flight status before heading to the airport.

Saudi authorities said that King Khalid International Airport was attacked on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of three Saudi citizens and injuries to others, as well as damage to a Saudia aircraft. Earlier attacks this week also killed one person at the airport and two others at Abha airport. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for both attacks.

The Houthis are facing a ground offensive in Yemen led by a Saudi-led coalition. Internationally recognised Yemeni government forces and Saudi air forces are attempting to jointly retake areas that the Houthis seized over the past month near the strategically important Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The offensive began last Sunday, and the coalition says it has made progress, including recapturing the Red Sea port city of Mocha. The Saudi-led coalition said its goal is to "eliminate" the Houthis. The Houthis control areas where approximately 70 percent of Yemen's population lives, including the capital Sanaa.