Muslims begin Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca amid war threat

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims once again traveled to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the Hajj pilgrimage despite the ongoing threat of war in Iran.

Official figures show 1.5 million worshipers arrived from abroad alone ahead of the start of the annual pilgrimage on Monday.

After circling the Kaaba, the stone cube-shaped sacred building inside Mecca’s Grand Mosque, pilgrims headed to the nearby Mina valley, about eight kilometers away, where they spent the night in a huge tent city.

On the second day, they set out for Mount Arafat, about 20 kilometers east of Mecca, where they stay until sunset at what is considered the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage.

During the three-month war in Iran, hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles were attacked against Saudi Arabia.

Air defenses stopped most of these, but also caused some losses and damage to energy infrastructure and residential areas.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense released images showing the deployment of air defense units to protect religious sites around Mecca.

The ministry stated that the armed forces are responsible for “protecting the airspace over the holy places and responding to all threats to ensure the safety and tranquility of pilgrims.”

For most Muslims, participating in the Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Many save for years to afford travel and Hajj packages from specialist tour operators. Per person these can easily cost the equivalent of US$5,800 ($8,000).

Airfares have increased significantly as a result of the Iran war, airlines have sharply increased aviation fuel surcharges.

The temperature was expected to rise to 45 degrees in Mecca on Monday. Two years ago, more than 1,300 people died in extreme heat.