Things are looking pretty tense in Saudi Arabia right now. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group is claiming they hit the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile on Thursday. While Saudi officials haven't confirmed the specific claim about the airport hit, the vibes are off: they did acknowledge three people died in strikes earlier this week, and the situation on the ground is getting chaotic. According to reports, a Saudia Airlines plane caught fire while parked at the terminal after being hit by shrapnel. Thankfully, it sounds like there weren't any passengers on board, but emergency crews were spotted dealing with smoke and flames at the scene. It’s giving major stress for travelers. Airlines like Lufthansa and Air India have already suspended flights, and about half of the departures from the airport were axed by Thursday afternoon. The Houthis are out here warning people to stay away from energy plants, too, so the pressure is high. To make matters worse, debris from an intercepted missile reportedly landed near a kindergarten and a medical complex. ## How we got here The Houthis are pushing back against Saudi support for the UN-recognized government in Yemen. They’ve been making massive moves across the coast lately and are currently closing in on the city of Taiz, which is a big deal for the control of the region. Saudi forces are trying to hold ground, but the conflict is escalating rapidly. ## Why it matters With the WPC Energy Congress scheduled to host major policymakers in Riyadh this week, this show of force is a direct attempt to shake up the kingdom's stability. When international airports start turning into battlegrounds, it’s a massive L for regional security and puts the entire energy sector on high alert.