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Iranian Pilgrims Stranded in Saudi Arabia to Return Home via Jadidat Arar Crossing

The first Iranian pilgrims’ flights departed from Madinah airport. (Madinah Principality)
The first Iranian pilgrims’ flights departed from Madinah airport. (Madinah Principality)
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Iranian Pilgrims Stranded in Saudi Arabia to Return Home via Jadidat Arar Crossing

The first Iranian pilgrims’ flights departed from Madinah airport. (Madinah Principality)
The first Iranian pilgrims’ flights departed from Madinah airport. (Madinah Principality)

Iranian pilgrims began departing Saudi Arabia on Sunday in organized batches under a joint air-and-land travel program, authorities said, following the closure of Iranian airspace following strikes between Iran and Israel.

The move came in line with a directive by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and in response to guidance from Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The first group of pilgrims left Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, heading to Arar Airport near the Saudi border. From there, they will continue their journey overland to the Jadidat Arar border crossing into Iraq.

Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization announced that the return of pilgrims to their country will begin on June 15, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported.

The agency said the arrangements were made in cooperation with the Saudi government. Pilgrims will be flown by Saudi Airlines from Madinah to Arar Airport near the Iraqi border.

From Arar, pilgrims will continue by dedicated buses to the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, where they will stay briefly to perform religious visits at the shrines of the Ahl al-Bayt.

Afterward, they will resume their journey to the Iran border using an Iranian land transport fleet before entering the country.

Crown Prince Mohammed had instructed the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to provide all necessary support to ensure the safe return of Iranian pilgrims and to facilitate their departure given the conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

With direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Iran suspended, a carefully coordinated plan was implemented to evacuate approximately 77,000 stranded pilgrims.

The first group of pilgrims arrived at Jadidat Arar on Sunday. Several daily flights to Arar, each carrying around 350 pilgrims, are being conducted, with roughly 3,000 pilgrims transported each day as part of this initial phase.

These efforts reflect Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian approach to hosting and serving the guests of the Two Holy Mosques, ensuring their safe return home despite complex regional challenges.

The operation underscores the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to facilitating pilgrimage for people of all nationalities.

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Gulf

KSrelief Implements Volunteer General Surgery Medical Project in Gaza Strip

This project is an extension of the volunteer medical initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief - SPA
This project is an extension of the volunteer medical initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief - SPA
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KSrelief Implements Volunteer General Surgery Medical Project in Gaza Strip

This project is an extension of the volunteer medical initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief - SPA
This project is an extension of the volunteer medical initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief - SPA

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) is implementing a volunteer general surgery medical project at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in the Gaza Strip, running from December 5 to 31.

Since the start of the campaign, the KSrelief volunteer medical team has performed 150 surgical operations, all of which were successful. In addition, 300 people benefited from medical examinations and outpatient clinic services, SPA reported.

This project is an extension of the volunteer medical initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to assist countries and communities in need, as well as those affected worldwide.

Gulf

Over 68 Million Visitors to Two Holy Mosques during Jumada Al Akhira

The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA
The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA
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Over 68 Million Visitors to Two Holy Mosques during Jumada Al Akhira

The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA
The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque announced that the total number of worshippers and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques during Jumada Al Akhira 1447 AH reached 68,741,853.

The authority said that the number of worshippers at the Grand Mosque totaled 30,016,073, including 94,776 worshippers in Hijr Ismail (Al-Hateem), while the number of Umrah performers reached 11,863,477, SPA reported.

It noted that the number of worshippers at the Prophet’s Mosque during the same month reached 23,116,271, including 1,319,653 worshippers in Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa. Meanwhile, 2,331,603 visitors greeted the Prophet and his two companions.

The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

This step aims to enhance operational efficiency by monitoring flows and crowds, empowering relevant authorities to manage crowds in partnership with associated entities better.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra
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Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday expressing concern over the recent military movements witnessed in the governorates of Hadhramaut and al-Mahra.

It noted that “the actions carried out by the Southern Transitional Council were taken unilaterally, without the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council or coordination with the coalition leadership”.

The Kingdom described the moves as an “unjustified escalation” that has harmed the interests of the Yemeni people across all segments of society, undermined the Southern cause, and weakened the coalition’s efforts.

The Kingdom further emphasized that, in recent months, it has focused on maintaining unity and has undertaken intensive efforts to reach peaceful solutions to address the situation in the two governorates, as part of its ongoing endeavors to restore stability.

The statement added that these efforts were “coordinated with the brethren United Arab Emirates, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government to contain the situation”.

It said that a “joint Saudi–Emirati military team was dispatched to coordinate with the Southern Transitional Council in Aden, ensuring the withdrawal of its forces from the two governorates and the handover of camps to the National Shield Forces and local authorities under the coalition’s supervision”.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that efforts are still underway to restore the situation to its previous state, expressing the Kingdom’s hope that the public interest will prevail and that the Southern Transitional Council will take the initiative to de-escalate tensions and urgently and peacefully withdraw its forces from the two governorates.

Saudi Arabia also underscored the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni forces and components, exercising restraint, and avoiding actions that could undermine security and stability.

The Kingdom reiterated its position that the “Southern cause is a just issue with historical and social dimensions and can only be resolved through dialogue that brings all Yemeni parties together at one table, within a comprehensive political process that ensures a lasting solution in Yemen”.

The statement concluded by affirming the Kingdom’s “support for the Chairman and members of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, in a manner that achieves security, stability, development, and peace in the sisterly Republic of Yemen”.