Hajj Pilgrimage Sees Over 1.5 Million Arrivals Amidst West Asian Tensions
Over 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the kingdom for the upcoming Hajj, according to Saudi officials, surpassing last year's numbers despite ongoing tensions in West Asia following strikes on Iran. The conflict led to air traffic disruptions and increased travel costs, but major Gulf airports have been working to restore operations.