(Adnkronos) – Over 1.5 million Muslims have arrived in the holy city of Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which this year takes place in a climate of hope for an end to the war in the Middle East. To protect them, the Saudi Ministry of Defense has strengthened air defense. Pilgrims dressed in white, aboard buses or on foot, arrived at the vast encampment of Mina after performing the “tawaf”, which means walking seven times around the Kaaba, the enormous black cube of the Grand Mosque of Mecca. The start of the Hajj coincided with US President Donald Trump sending mixed signals regarding a possible agreement to extend the fragile ceasefire with Iran and an understanding for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
This year’s celebrations, which draw Muslim faithful from all over the world, including Iran, follow a series of Iranian attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf countries. Saudi authorities have worked to keep the conflict away from the Hajj, with many Muslims traveling long distances to participate in one of the world’s largest annual pilgrimages. Despite the uncertainty caused by the conflict, Saudi officials said that a greater number of pilgrims from abroad participated in the Hajj this year compared to 2025.
In any case, the Saudi Ministry of Defense showed in a video advanced air defense batteries positioned on the outskirts of Mecca. “Air defense forces are responsible for protecting the skies above the holy sites and addressing all aerial threats, ensuring the safety and tranquility of visitors,” the post read.
