Riyadh on alert as blasts force diplomats and schools into shelters

Riyadh: Diplomats, students and residents took shelter in Riyadh on Thursday as loud explosions shook parts of the Saudi capital amid a surge in attacks by Yemen's Ansar Allah.

Several diplomats were advised to stay inside their embassies, while international schools moved students to safer areas. One school placed children in a basement as a precaution, according to residents cited by AFP.

Businesses in Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District also evacuated staff following the blasts.

The attacks came as Houthies has stepped up strikes towards Riyadh, with residents reporting some of the loudest explosions heard in the capital in recent days.

The latest incidents followed attacks on Saudi airports that killed three people and injured dozens, further escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the group.