More than 1.5m foreign pilgrims begin Hajj despite Iran war fears
More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have started Hajj in Saudi Arabia as regional war fears, extreme heat and travel disruption hang over the pilgrimage.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Pilgrims from outside Saudi Arabia are arriving for Hajj even as the region stays tense after the Iran war. Saudi officials say 1.51 million foreign pilgrims have entered the kingdom, and worshippers are facing extreme heat and uncertainty.
Hajj is a very big trip that many Muslims try to make at least once in their lives. This year, more than 1.5 million visitors from outside Saudi Arabia began it, even though the region has been worried about war and safety.
It is a bit like trying to go to a giant family reunion when the roads are crowded and storms are nearby. The article says the heat was also very strong, making the journey harder.
Even with those problems, many pilgrims said the trip was a dream they had waited for for many years. Saudi Arabia also says it has extra protection around the holy places.
Analysis
What is happening
More than 1.5 million pilgrims from outside Saudi Arabia have begun the Hajj, according to Saudi authorities, despite fears that the region’s conflict could flare up again. The BBC says 1.51 million foreign pilgrims had arrived, slightly more than last year.
Why the backdrop is tense
The pilgrimage is unfolding against the shadow of the Iran war, which had already spilled over into attacks on Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf states. Before the ceasefire last month, Iran launched missile and drone attacks in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes. The article says two civilians in al-Kharj were killed in one Iranian attack on 8 March, along with a US service member at a nearby air base.
How Saudi Arabia is responding
Saudi Arabia has publicly emphasized protection around the holy sites. The defence ministry posted video showing air defence batteries near Mecca and said the forces are there to guard the skies over the holy sites and handle aerial threats.
What pilgrims are facing
Beyond the security worries, the pilgrims are also dealing with punishing heat. The article says temperatures reached 45C on the first day, as worshippers performed rituals at Mecca’s Grand Mosque and then travelled to Mina before heading to Mount Arafat, the climax of the pilgrimage.
For many pilgrims, the central story is still personal: years of waiting, rising costs, and disrupted travel plans had made the journey uncertain, but they have now reached Saudi Arabia to complete one of Islam’s five pillars.
Key points
- Saudi Arabia says 1.51 million foreign pilgrims arrived for Hajj this year.
- The pilgrimage is taking place amid fears of renewed conflict linked to the Iran war.
- Pilgrims faced temperatures of about 45C on the first day.
- Saudi authorities say air defences are in place around Mecca and the holy sites.
