Mina Prepares to Bid Pilgrims Farewell after Successful, Exceptional Hajj Season

 Pilgrims praying after stoning the devil at Mina’s Jamarat site (AP)
Pilgrims praying after stoning the devil at Mina’s Jamarat site (AP)
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Mina Prepares to Bid Pilgrims Farewell after Successful, Exceptional Hajj Season

 Pilgrims praying after stoning the devil at Mina’s Jamarat site (AP)
Pilgrims praying after stoning the devil at Mina’s Jamarat site (AP)

As the sun sets on the second day of the Tashriq days, which follow the Eid al-Adha holiday, the holy site of Mina prepares to bid farewell to Hajj pilgrims headed to Makkah to perform the final rite of their spiritual journey.

On the second day of Eid and the first day of the Tashriq days, Hajj pilgrims had carried out the stoning of the devil ritual at Mina’s Jamarat site.

The visitors of the holy sites were given the pebbles to throw at the three walls in a disinfected bag as part of the coronavirus preventive measures.

Pilgrims were then transported out of Jamarat according to a highly detailed plan that focuses on preventative health measures that ensure their safety.

Colored tracks, floor stickers, and guiding posters aided pilgrims in easily flowing in and out of the site under close supervision from civil and security authorities helping organize this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

Jamarat is considered one of the key sites in Mina, and is comprised of five 12-meter stories that are fully serviced to ensure enough room for pilgrims to perform their rites at ease.

After leaving Jamarat, pilgrims headed back to their camps at Mina, commonly known as the City of Tents, where they would start preparing for the final stop in their pilgrimage journey.

This includes performing the last Tawaaf (floating around the Kabah seven times) in Makkah, which is part of a series of ritual acts that must be performed during Hajj.

As for emergencies reported during this year’s Hajj, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority’s land and air ambulance teams received more than 11,000 phone calls between July 17-20 and filed 1,893 emergency reports in the holy city and holy sites.

Ambulance teams stationed in Makkah city and holy sites responded to 1,269 medical and injury cases. Out of the total cases, 602 were transferred to hospitals, and 649 were attended to on the spot.

Statistic reports of the Authority show that during the last four days, a total of 979 medical and 177 injury cases were attended to by its teams.

The central Makkah city recorded the highest number of emergency cases with 755, out of which 37 of them were reported in the Grand Mosque, 274 in Mina, and 198 cases each in Arafat and Muzdalifah.



6 Injured after Debris Falls from Attack on Residential Area in Kuwait

Smoke rises from an area of Kuwait's international airport after a reported drone strike on April 1, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke rises from an area of Kuwait's international airport after a reported drone strike on April 1, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
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6 Injured after Debris Falls from Attack on Residential Area in Kuwait

Smoke rises from an area of Kuwait's international airport after a reported drone strike on April 1, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke rises from an area of Kuwait's international airport after a reported drone strike on April 1, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

An Iranian attack on a residential area in northern Kuwait injured six people on Monday, the Gulf country's health ministry said.

It followed a post on X by Kuwait's army earlier in the day saying the nation's air defenses were working to intercept incoming missiles and drones.

"Falling projectiles and debris in a residential area in the north of the country after an Iranian aggression," the ministry said.

"The total number of injuries rose to six, with varying degrees of wounds."

Overnight from Sunday to Monday, Kuwait had also said it was responding to similar attacks.


Saudi Arabia Intercepts and Destroys Two Drones

Saudi defenses downed two drones in recent hours. (Saudi Ministry of Defense)
Saudi defenses downed two drones in recent hours. (Saudi Ministry of Defense)
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Saudi Arabia Intercepts and Destroys Two Drones

Saudi defenses downed two drones in recent hours. (Saudi Ministry of Defense)
Saudi defenses downed two drones in recent hours. (Saudi Ministry of Defense)

Saudi defenses intercepted two drones, said Defense Ministry spokesman Turki al-Malki on Monday.

He said the interception and destruction operations were carried out successfully, reported the Saudi Press Agency.


UAE: Falling Debris Injures One after Attack Intercepted

FILE PHOTO: General view of the Abu Dhabi city is seen from observation deck of Emirates Towers in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 23, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: General view of the Abu Dhabi city is seen from observation deck of Emirates Towers in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 23, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
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UAE: Falling Debris Injures One after Attack Intercepted

FILE PHOTO: General view of the Abu Dhabi city is seen from observation deck of Emirates Towers in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 23, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: General view of the Abu Dhabi city is seen from observation deck of Emirates Towers in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 23, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo

Falling debris from an intercepted attack injured one person in an industrial area of Abu Dhabi, authorities in the United Arab Emirates said Monday.

"Abu Dhabi authorities have responded to an incident of falling debris on the Raneen Systems company in ICAD (Industrial City of Abu Dhabi) in the Musaffah area, following a successful interception by air defense systems," the Abu Dhabi government's media office posted on X.

"The incident resulted in moderate injuries to a Ghanaian national."

The injury comes a day after authorities in the Emirati city of Sharjah said they were "dealing with an incident that targeted Khor Fakkan.”