Three people were killed in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, Saudi officials said Friday.

One attack hit airport buildings, and the other hit a plane owned by Saudia, the national airline, the country's civil aviation authority said, Arab News reported. One of the dead was a Saudia pilot, Captain Hamoud Ali AlKalthami. The other two were also Saudi citizens.

"Saudia honors his memory with deep respect and appreciation," the airline said. It said the plane was on the ground with no passengers aboard when it was damaged.

A number of other people were hurt, with injuries ranging from minor to severe. Al Jazeera reported that dozens were wounded, from several countries.

Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, said they fired a ballistic missile at the airport and claimed it hit its target. The Houthis have warned airlines to stay out of Saudi airspace, except over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, Al Jazeera reported. The group says the strikes answer Saudi attacks on airports in Yemen.

It is part of a wider surge. Earlier in the week, attacks on airports in Abha and Riyadh killed three civilians and injured 36, Saudi officials said. Other airports near the Yemen border were also hit.

Flights in Riyadh were back to normal by 6 p.m. Thursday, Saudia said.

The fighting in Yemen had been mostly frozen for years but flared again after the United States and Israel went to war with Iran. On Friday, Saudi Arabia and Yemen's government asked the UN Security Council to act. Pakistan said it now has a large number of troops in Riyadh to help defend Saudi territory.

What we know: Three Saudis, including a pilot, died, and the airport has reopened.
What we don't: How many people remain badly hurt.