Saudi Interior Minister Reviews Readiness of Hajj Security Forces for Hajj Season

Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz reviewed the readiness of the Hajj Security Forces. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz reviewed the readiness of the Hajj Security Forces. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Interior Minister Reviews Readiness of Hajj Security Forces for Hajj Season

Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz reviewed the readiness of the Hajj Security Forces. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz reviewed the readiness of the Hajj Security Forces. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz reviewed the readiness of the Hajj Security Forces to implement approved field and organizational plans for the 1447 AH Hajj season during the annual ceremony held by participating Hajj security forces in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency said.

Director of Public Security and Chairman of the Hajj Security Committee Mohammed Al-Bassami said in a speech delivered on the occasion that the Saudi leadership has mobilized all resources and capabilities to serve pilgrims, making the Kingdom a leading global model in crowd management and in achieving the highest levels of organization and smooth movement. These efforts enable pilgrims to perform rituals in safety and tranquility.

He explained that the Hajj Security Forces have commenced implementing this season’s duties through integrated security and preventive plans built on lessons learned from previous years and designed to anticipate various scenarios and contingencies.

The plans aim to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims in Makkah, the holy sites, Madinah, and along all routes used by pilgrims.

Al-Bassami also stressed that authorities will firmly confront any attempt to politicize Hajj, disrupt pilgrims’ security, or disturb the performance of rituals. He underscored the full readiness of Hajj Security Forces to carry out approved plans.

The ceremony included several security and field simulations demonstrating the readiness and operational capabilities of participating forces. It also featured displays of security vehicles, modern technologies used during Hajj, and support from Security Aviation and field support vehicles.

The ceremony was attended by members of the Supreme Hajj Committee, security and military commanders, and several senior officials.

 



Trump Administration Backs Saudi Arabia’s Right to Defend Itself against Houthis

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press before boarding a plane en route to Iceland at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on October 5, 2026. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press before boarding a plane en route to Iceland at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on October 5, 2026. (AFP)
TT

Trump Administration Backs Saudi Arabia’s Right to Defend Itself against Houthis

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press before boarding a plane en route to Iceland at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on October 5, 2026. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press before boarding a plane en route to Iceland at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on October 5, 2026. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed on Monday that Washington understands the steps taken by the Saudi-led Arab coalition against the terrorist Houthi militia in Yemen.

The Trump administration is determined to meet its bilateral security commitments with the Kingdom in confronting threats from the Iran-backed group.

“The United States has a defense and security agreement with Saudi Arabia and we intend to live by it. I won’t discuss details further than that,” Rubio told a press conference before departing on a European trip that includes Iceland, Greece and Portugal.

“As far as our view of it, well, I think it’s – the Saudis and Yemeni forces clearly are not in favor of the Houthis controlling that territory close to the – to the [Bab al-Mandeb] strait there,” he added.

“It is territory that was gained as a result of a Houthi offensive, and this is the counter to it. We expected that would happen and that’s what’s happening,” he remarked.

“So obviously the Saudis have come under Houthi attack and see the threat that that poses, and they have a right to defend themselves. And obviously the Yemeni forces are going to try to retake territory that they were ousted from,” Rubio added.


Under Royal Directives, Saudi Arabia to Regularize Residency Status of Yemeni Nationals

The Ministry of Interior said that holding a valid Yemeni passport is an essential prerequisite for regularizing legal status. (Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen)
The Ministry of Interior said that holding a valid Yemeni passport is an essential prerequisite for regularizing legal status. (Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen)
TT

Under Royal Directives, Saudi Arabia to Regularize Residency Status of Yemeni Nationals

The Ministry of Interior said that holding a valid Yemeni passport is an essential prerequisite for regularizing legal status. (Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen)
The Ministry of Interior said that holding a valid Yemeni passport is an essential prerequisite for regularizing legal status. (Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen)

Under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and in response to a request submitted by Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced on Monday that the status of all Yemeni nationals residing irregularly in the Kingdom will be officially regularized.

The ministry is carrying out the initiative with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and Saudi Data and AI Authority, as part of the Kingdom's continued fraternal and humanitarian support for the Yemeni people.

The Ministry of Interior said that holding a valid Yemeni passport is an essential prerequisite for regularizing legal status.

The start date and applicable regulations will be announced through the official accounts of the General Directorate of Passports and other relevant authorities.


Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Houthis' Continued Targeting of Civilian Facilities

Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Houthis' Continued Targeting of Civilian Facilities
TT

Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Houthis' Continued Targeting of Civilian Facilities

Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Houthis' Continued Targeting of Civilian Facilities

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Monday the terrorist Houthi militia’s continued targeting of civilians and civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said Saudi Arabia also condemned “the Houthis’ blatant and repeated attacks against the holiest sites on earth - Makkah and Madinah - the capital Riyadh, and the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, Najran, Taif, and Yanbu, as well as its targeting of Saudi vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.”

The Kingdom stressed that, since the terrorist Houthi militia’s coup against Yemen’s legitimate government in 2014, Saudi Arabia “has made sustained and tireless efforts to support a comprehensive and lasting political solution in Yemen.”

“However, consistent with its rejection of peace, the terrorist Houthi militia has instead chosen continued military escalation, dragging Yemen and the brotherly Yemeni people into further humanitarian and economic suffering that serves - and is in pursuit of - external agendas,” it added.

“The Kingdom reaffirms its inherent right to defend its territory, resources, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents, and to take all necessary measures to protect its security in accordance with international law,” it continued.

“It also renews its full political and military support for the Presidential Leadership Council, the Yemeni government, and the brotherly Yemeni people to end the coup and restore the state and its institutions from the control of the terrorist Houthi militia,” it went on to say.

“The Kingdom reiterates its call on the international community, particularly the permanent members of the UN Security Council, to fulfill its responsibilities, implement the relevant Security Council resolutions, and provide full support to Yemen’s legitimate government in confronting the terrorist Houthi militia and ending the threat it poses to Yemen, the region, and the world,” it urged.