Thousands of Muslims began leaving Makkah after completing the Hajj pilgrimage in extreme heat. This year’s event saw over 1.7 million participants from 165 countries amid conflict sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Since February, Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes across the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia. Over 30,000 Iranians performed the pilgrimage, a third of the expected 86,000, due to “wartime situation”.
Pilgrims completed the stoning ritual in Mina’s valley before heading to the Grand Mosque for the farewell circumambulation around the Kaaba.
Following over 1,300 deaths during last year’s Hajj amid temperatures above 50°C, Saudi authorities introduced heat mitigation measures. The Saudi Red Crescent reported providing emergency services to more than 83,000 people since the start of the pilgrimage season.