2 weeks ago 
EPA
The pilgrims had to contend with temperatures of 45C connected the archetypal time of the Hajj
Muslims person begun the yearly Hajj pilgrimage successful Saudi Arabia against the backdrop of a portion profoundly shaken by the Iran war.
Saudi authorities said past week that immoderate 1.51 cardinal pilgrims had arrived from extracurricular the kingdom.
That is 11,000 much than past year, contempt concerns successful the portion astir a resumption of the three-month-old struggle betwixt the US, Israel and Iran.
Before a fragile ceasefire took effect past month, Iran launched waves of rocket and drone attacks connected Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours successful retaliation for US and Israeli aerial strikes.
Two civilians surviving successful the cardinal metropolis of al-Kharj were killed successful an Iranian onslaught connected 8 March, on with a US work subordinate stationed astatine the adjacent Prince Sultan Air Base.
The Saudi defence ministry posted a video connected societal media past week showing aerial defence batteries connected the outskirts of the beatified metropolis of Mecca, which is successful the country's west.
"The aerial defence forces are liable for protecting the skies implicit the beatified sites and dealing with each aerial threats, ensuring the information and bid of caput of the guests," the station said.
Mohammed Chahada, an Egyptian successful his 50s, was among the pilgrims who expressed their anticipation that the US and Iran could hold a bid deal.
"The warfare successful Iran has affected the full world. Nobody wants wars oregon harm to countries and peoples," helium told AFP quality bureau arsenic helium near Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site.
Other pilgrims said they were grateful that they had been capable to get to Saudi Arabia aft months of uncertainty, aerial postulation disruption, and surging question costs.
"I person wanted to execute the pilgrimage my full life, for 40 oregon 50 years," said Jreish Mohammed, a 68-year-old Moroccan. "And this year, my imagination came true."
The Hajj is 1 of the 5 Pillars of Islam and takes spot successful the 12th period of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the travel that each big Muslim indispensable undertake astatine slightest erstwhile successful their beingness if they tin spend it and are physically able.
The pilgrims besides had to contend with temperatures of 45C (113F) connected the archetypal time of this year's Hajj, erstwhile they headed to Mecca's Grand Mosque and walked astir the cube-shaped Kaaba 7 times - a ritual known arsenic tawaf.
They past travelled to Mina, 5km (3 miles) away, wherever they volition walk the nighttime successful tents earlier heading to Mount Arafat, wherever the Prophet Muhammad is said to person delivered his last sermon. The time spent praying determination is considered the climax of the Hajj.
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