Bahrain Hosts Military Conference on Gulf Navigation Security

A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defense (MOD) shows the Stena Important (L) being accompanied by the British Navy frigate HMS Montrose (R) through the Strait of Hormuz, 25 July 2019. The Royal Navy has started providing escort for British-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's seizure of British-flagged tanker Stena Impero. EPA/MOD/BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defense (MOD) shows the Stena Important (L) being accompanied by the British Navy frigate HMS Montrose (R) through the Strait of Hormuz, 25 July 2019. The Royal Navy has started providing escort for British-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's seizure of British-flagged tanker Stena Impero. EPA/MOD/BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
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Bahrain Hosts Military Conference on Gulf Navigation Security

A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defense (MOD) shows the Stena Important (L) being accompanied by the British Navy frigate HMS Montrose (R) through the Strait of Hormuz, 25 July 2019. The Royal Navy has started providing escort for British-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's seizure of British-flagged tanker Stena Impero. EPA/MOD/BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defense (MOD) shows the Stena Important (L) being accompanied by the British Navy frigate HMS Montrose (R) through the Strait of Hormuz, 25 July 2019. The Royal Navy has started providing escort for British-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's seizure of British-flagged tanker Stena Impero. EPA/MOD/BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE

Bahrain hosted a conference on Gulf maritime security on Wednesday, after multiple attacks on shipping in the strategic Strait of Hormuz sent tensions soaring between Iran and the US.

Manama said the meeting was held "to discuss the current regional situation and to strengthen cooperation".

In a statement, it slammed "the repeated attacks and unacceptable practices of Iran and the terrorist groups linked to it."

In light of the recent challenges and threats facing the region, Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation, calling upon the international community to assume its role in deterring all threats that target international security and peace.

The closed-door meeting was confirmed by the British Defense Ministry and a spokesman for the US Marines' 5th Fleet on Tuesday. The ministry declined to give details about the agenda, but said that "several international partners" would be participating.

The Guardian reported this week that the UK had called for the meeting in Bahrain with other European countries and the US. 

Bahrain said earlier this month that it and the US would co-host another conference on "maritime and air navigation security", set for October.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Wednesday that his country will not participate in a US-led naval security mission in the Gulf.

Washington asked Berlin to help safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's recent seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker.

"The German government will not take part in the maritime mission presented and planned by the United States," Maas said while on an official trip to Poland.

He said Germany disagreed with Washington's approach towards Iran and is not seeking a military escalation to the crisis.

The US and Britain have been seeking to establish a mission to prevent Iran from seizing further oil tankers, after Tehran impounded the British-flagged Stena Impero and the Panama-flagged MT Riah in mid-July in the Strait of Hormuz.

Several EU member states have expressed an interest in the proposal to ensure safe travel of cargo.



Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia for Hajj Stream into Arafat

Muslim pilgrims pray at dawn on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
Muslim pilgrims pray at dawn on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
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Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia for Hajj Stream into Arafat

Muslim pilgrims pray at dawn on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
Muslim pilgrims pray at dawn on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)

Around two million pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj, a government spokesperson said Wednesday.

Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a religious obligation involving rituals and acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfil if they have the money and are physically able to do it.

Hajj Ministry spokesperson Ghassan Al-Nuwaimi provided an approximate number for foreigners at this year’s pilgrimage. He did not say how many domestic pilgrims were taking part. Last year, there were 1,611,310 pilgrims from outside the country.

On Wednesday, pilgrims streamed into Arafat, some making the journey on foot, carrying their luggage through temperatures nudging 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Others carried the elderly.

People paused to sit on the ground to rest or eat before heading to their camps.

Mount Arafat, a rocky hill southeast of Makkah, holds immense significance in Islam. Arafat is mentioned in the Quran and it is where the Prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon on his final Hajj.

According to traditional sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when God draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins.

Pilgrims remain in Arafat, in prayer and reflection, from after midnight until after sunset. After sunset Thursday, pilgrims will go to the desert plain of Muzdalifah to collect pebbles, which they will use in a ritual.

Earlier in the week, Health Minister Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel told The Associated Press that 10,000 trees have been planted to provide more shade, there is increased hospital bed capacity, and the number of paramedics has tripled.