Today marks the start of the 2026 Hajj season in Saudi Arabia, at a time when the region is experiencing turmoil due to the Iran war.
Saudi authorities have stated that over 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in the country to perform this year’s rituals — a number exceeding last year’s, despite ongoing regional conflicts.
Reports also indicate that Saudi Arabia has faced several attacks since the outbreak of war between Iran, the United States, and Israel, further destabilizing the security situation in the region.
To reassure pilgrims, the Saudi Ministry of Defense has released a video showing air defense systems deployed around the city of Mecca.