BANGKOK, Oct 14 — International Monetary Fund head Kristalina Georgieva said today that recent attacks on Saudi Arabia could impact people “everywhere”, as conflict in the energy-rich region adds to wide-ranging economic concerns.

A violent battle between a Saudi-led coalition and Yemen’s Houthis has erupted in recent days, with missile strikes on airports and energy facilities across the kingdom.

The latest round of fighting was triggered by Houthi strikes on Riyadh’s international airport at the weekend that left 13 people dead and operations suspended in the worst attack since 2015.

The escalation compounds fears about the impact of the Middle East crisis on global growth, with crude prices sent soaring since Iran effectively shut the crucial Strait of Hormuz after it was attacked by the US and Israel in February.