More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have begun Hajj in Saudi Arabia amid extreme heat and concerns over the Iran conflict.
More than 1.5 million Muslims from outside Saudi Arabia have begun the annual Hajj pilgrimage in and around Mecca, pressing ahead with one of Islam’s central obligations despite anxiety over the Iran war and the fragile regional security picture.
Saudi authorities said last week that about 1.51 million foreign pilgrims had arrived in the kingdom, roughly 11,000 more than last year. Other reporting described the figure more broadly as over 1.5 million, underscoring that the official count being cited is approximate.
The pilgrimage began with the region still unsettled by the three-month-old conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran. Before a fragile ceasefire took effect last month, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in retaliation for US and Israeli airstrikes, according to the source material. Two civilians in the central Saudi city of al-Kharj and a US service member at nearby Prince Sultan Air Base were killed in an Iranian attack on March 8.
Saudi officials have sought to reassure pilgrims while keeping the focus on the religious rites. The Saudi defence ministry posted video last week showing air defence batteries on the outskirts of Mecca. “The air defence forces are responsible for protecting the skies over the holy sites and dealing with all aerial threats, ensuring the safety and peace of mind of the guests,” the ministry said in the post.
The start of Hajj also coincided with uncertainty over diplomatic efforts involving Iran. US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that “The deal with Iran will either be a great and meaningful one, or there will be no deal,” as questions continued over an extension of the ceasefire and a possible deal linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
For many pilgrims, the journey followed months of uncertainty over air travel and costs. Mohammed Chahada, an Egyptian pilgrim in his 50s, told AFP that he hoped the US and Iran could reach peace. “The war in Iran has affected the entire world. Nobody wants wars or harm to countries and peoples,” he said as he left the Grand Mosque.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is required at least once of every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able to make the journey. Pilgrims began by performing tawaf, walking seven times around the Kaaba at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, before moving toward Mina, a tent city about 5 kilometers away.
The rites are unfolding in severe heat. Temperatures reached 45 C, or 113 F, on the first day, and Saudi health authorities urged pilgrims to use umbrellas and limit sun exposure to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion.
Pilgrims are expected to continue from Mina to Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his final sermon. The day of prayer there is regarded as the climax of Hajj, and Saudi authorities will be watched closely for their handling of both the heat risks and the security precautions around the holy sites.
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