Riyadh: Yemen's Houthi movement on Thursday claimed that it had carried out another ballistic missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as fighting in Yemen continued to intensify.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had targeted the airport with a ballistic missile and claimed that the attack disrupted air traffic. The Houthis also warned international airlines about operating in Saudi airspace and described the airspace as an area of military operations.

Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the latest Houthi claim. It also remained unclear whether the missile struck the airport, whether it was intercepted or whether the latest incident caused casualties or damage.

The new claim came after earlier attacks on Saudi airports that left three people dead and 36 injured. Saudi aviation authorities said an earlier attack on King Khalid International Airport killed one Sudanese national and injured eight other people.

Another attack targeted Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Two women, one Moroccan and one Algerian, were killed, while 28 people were injured, according to Saudi authorities.

The latest developments have added to a sharp escalation in fighting between the Houthis and Saudi backed Yemeni government forces. The fighting has intensified after years of relative calm following a United Nations brokered truce that began in April 2022.

The Saudi led coalition has responded with air strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al Malki said Saudi forces had intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh during the previous wave of attacks.

The coalition also said it had destroyed a missile launch platform in Sanaa that had been used to launch attacks towards the Saudi capital. It later announced that 82 Houthi military targets had been destroyed in several parts of Yemen.

The targets identified by the coalition included ballistic missile facilities, command and control centres, communications systems, weapons storage sites and Houthi gathering areas. The coalition said attacks against civilian objects would not go unpunished.

The Houthis have continued to claim attacks against Saudi targets despite the Saudi military response. Their warning to international airlines has raised concerns about the possible impact of the conflict on commercial flights and regional air travel.

Civilian aviation has already been affected elsewhere in Yemen. Houthi attacks also targeted Aden International Airport, according to Yemeni government authorities. One missile landed close to the runway shortly before a flight from Cairo was due to arrive. The aircraft was diverted to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia before later landing safely in Aden.

Fighting has also intensified around strategically important areas of western Yemen. Saudi backed Yemeni government forces have launched military operations aimed at taking territory from the Houthis, including areas near the Bab el Mandeb Strait.

The strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is one of the world's important maritime routes. Fighting in and around the area has raised concerns about international shipping as well as regional security.

Yemeni government forces have said they have made gains around Bab el Mandeb, including in the area of Dhubab. Houthi officials have disputed some of those claims and said they had regained strategic areas. The competing battlefield claims have not all been independently verified.

The renewed fighting is also creating a serious humanitarian crisis. The International Organization for Migration reported that more than 184,000 people had been displaced between August 1 and October 4. By October 7, the number of people displaced since the latest fighting began had risen above 200,000.

The situation has increased pressure on civilians already facing shortages of food and shelter and serious health concerns.

The latest Houthi claim comes as the conflict continues to intensify, with attacks affecting airports in both Saudi Arabia and Yemen and large numbers of civilians being displaced.