Yemen-based Houthis have escalated attacks on Saudi Arabia, launching ballistic missiles towards Riyadh early Sunday. It was the first reported direct targeting of the Saudi capital since fighting intensified between the Iran-backed group and its regional adversaries.

Saudi Arabia warned of a “hostile aerial threat” and issued a string of emergency alerts across the kingdom, including in its capital, late Friday and early Saturday. Also Saturday, Iran’s state TV reported that a man was executed after being convicted on charges of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad.

The Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts as several booms rattled parts of Riyadh, and local flights were disrupted. The cause of the blasts was not immediately clear.

Saudi Arabia issued air-raid alerts for Riyadh and other cities across the nation overnight as Iranian-backed Houthis step up missile and drone attacks on the kingdom.

This was the first time an alert was sounded in Riyadh since an escalation between the Houthis in Yemen and the Saudis.

Fox News correspondent Stephanie Bennett reports on flames and smoke seen near Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport and threats from Iran-backed Houthis on ‘Fox Report.’

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that Saudi Arabia may have military needs due to the ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthis and that Turkey was ready to

"Washington has sought to fully transfer field responsibility to its key regional partner," a former Saudi diplomat told Newsweek.