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Saudi Arabia Declares Hajj 2023 a Success

Muslim pilgrims gather around the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah on June 30, 2023 during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (AFP)
Muslim pilgrims gather around the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah on June 30, 2023 during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Declares Hajj 2023 a Success

Muslim pilgrims gather around the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah on June 30, 2023 during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (AFP)
Muslim pilgrims gather around the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah on June 30, 2023 during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (AFP)

Saud Arabia announced on Friday the success of its plans in organizing the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.

It said no diseases or health risks were reported at the pilgrimage, which witnessed the return of pilgrims to pre-pandemic numbers.

Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud met with senior ministry, military and security officials in the holy city of Makkah.

He stressed that the cohesion between the military and security sectors had greatly helped in ensuring the success of the security and organizational plans in place for the Hajj.

He underscored the importance of advanced technologies in assisting the security forces in performing their duties, highlighting the use of AI in enriching the experience.

Minister of Health Fahad bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel declared the success of the health plans for the Hajj.

In a statement, he underlined the great support accorded to the Hajj and health sector by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

He praised the role played by the Supreme Hajj Committee, chaired by Prince Abdulaziz, in overcoming all health challenges. He expressed his gratitude to the Interior Ministry for its effective role in applying health plans.

Moreover, he hailed the close follow up of Prince Khalid bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz, advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of the Makkah region.

Al-Jalajel said over 36,000 health sector employees, backed by 7,600 volunteers, were deployed at the holy sites during the Hajj.

Over 400,000 pilgrims received health services during the pilgrimage, he went on to say. Over 50 open-heart surgeries were performed, over 1,600 dialysis sessions were held and over 4,000 pilgrims received virtual services from the virtual hospital.

Moreover, over 8,000 cases of heat stroke were treated. He noted that the awareness campaigns that were held throughout the Hajj helped in limiting the number of heat stroke cases.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia, the UK to Support Vulnerable Groups in Yemen with $10 Million

Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of KSrelief Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah signs the agreement. SPA
Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of KSrelief Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah signs the agreement. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, the UK to Support Vulnerable Groups in Yemen with $10 Million

Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of KSrelief Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah signs the agreement. SPA
Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of KSrelief Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah signs the agreement. SPA

Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah and Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) Carl Skau have signed a cooperation agreement to support vulnerable groups in several Yemeni governorates.

The agreement forms part of Saudi Arabia's humanitarian and relief projects and programs delivered through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to assist people in need and those affected by crises around the world.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday via video conference in the presence of UK Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr. Alice Burt.

Under the agreement, KSrelief and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will each contribute half of a $10 million financial package to the WFP to support the project in Yemen's Al-Mahrah, Hadhramout, Aden, Al-Dhale, and Lahij governorates.

The agreement aims to address the food needs of the most vulnerable groups by providing asset-creation support activities for beneficiaries and improving their access to food through conditional cash transfers, enabling them to become less dependent on humanitarian assistance.

The project also includes rehabilitating productive infrastructure, helping targeted households transition from Phase 4 acute food insecurity to greater stability and self-reliance, implementing vocational training programs, developing beneficiaries' skills to enhance productivity, strengthening the capacities of local authorities, and activating governance systems to manage and sustain community assets.

Gulf

Kuwait, Bahrain Say Intercepted Iran Attacks

Smoke rises after a drone was intercepted during early morning hours in Manama, Bahrain, July 14, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Smoke rises after a drone was intercepted during early morning hours in Manama, Bahrain, July 14, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
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Kuwait, Bahrain Say Intercepted Iran Attacks

Smoke rises after a drone was intercepted during early morning hours in Manama, Bahrain, July 14, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Smoke rises after a drone was intercepted during early morning hours in Manama, Bahrain, July 14, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

Kuwait and Bahrain on Wednesday confirmed they had intercepted fresh aerial salvos from Iran as Tehran and Washington exchanged fire over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Kuwait's military said it was intercepting attack drones, and blamed "nefarious Iranian aggression,” with Bahrain's army later saying it "succeeded in intercepting and destroying a number of the treacherous Iranian aerial attacks.”

In the early hours of the morning, Bahrain's interior ministry said it had sounded warning sirens and urged citizens and residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.

Iranian state media reported Wednesday that Iran carried out separate attacks on US targets in Kuwait and Bahrain after US forces struck Iran.

Gulf

Arab, Islamic Countries Slam Terrorist Houthi Attack against Saudi Arabia

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Arab, Islamic Countries Slam Terrorist Houthi Attack against Saudi Arabia

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The Iran-backed Houthi militias’ terrorist attack against Saudi Arabia on Monday sparked Arab and international outcry and condemnation of what was seen as a violation of international law and a direct threat to the security of the region.

The United States declared its solidarity with Saudi Arabia in confronting the latest Houthi attacks, saying the strategic relationship between Washington and Riyadh was stronger.

The State Department said the Houthi group remains designated as a foreign terrorist organization. It added that efforts to protect marine navigation in the Red Sea and combat terrorist groups in Yemen continue.

The Saudi Defense Ministry had said on Monday that its air defenses shot down ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis against the Kingdom.

Condemnations poured in from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon.

The statements warned that the attack was a dangerous escalation that undermines regional security and stability.

They expressed solidarity with the Kingdom and support for the measures it takes in defending its sovereignty and security.

Bahrain hailed the vigilance of the Saudi defenses in intercepting the attack and saving lives and its efforts in leading the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen.

Kuwait slammed the attack as a violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and of international law.

Oman called on all Yemeni parties to show restraint, commit to the truce and return to the negotiations table under the UN-sponsored process.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the attacks against Saudi Arabia and Jordan were “systematic attempts to undermine the stability of the Arab Gulf and keep the region in a cycle of tensions in service of plots that harbor no goodwill towards the Arab people.”

He expressed Lebanon’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, the Gulf and Jordan, saying their security and stability were an “integral part of national Arab security.”

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed Aoun’s remarks, adding that Beirut stands by Saudi Arabia and its legitimate right to take the suitable measures to defend its territories and people.

He warned that the “continuation of these attacks reveals a dangerous insistence on undermining efforts to achieve security and stability in the Arab Gulf region.”

The Muslim World League condemned the terrorist attack against Saudi Arabia that “violates religious values and international laws and norms.”

“The cowardly attack violates all humanitarian values,” added MWL Secretary-General Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa.

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi stressed that the “cowardly attack is a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.”

He called for a “firm and deterrent international stance to put an end to its hostile practices and ensure those responsible are held accountable.”