Mecca

Pakistan pledges full military backing to Saudi Arabia under Mecca pact after deadly Houthi strikes

“Pakistan will not tolerate any kind of aggression. Our agreements demand it, and so do our bonds of brotherhood.” 

Supporters of the Houthi authorities gather during a protest against the Saudi intervention in Yemen, in Sanaa, on October 9, 2026.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by their ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence, pose after signing a joint defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, August 7, 2026.

Mecca defense signees converging to discuss Houthi threat after Baghaei warns of escalation

Iran-aligned Houthi fighters occupy a firing position in a screengrab from a video said to show Houthi fighters attacking Saudi-backed forces in the location given by the source as al Jawf governorate, Yemen.

Houthi Red Sea advance, drone strikes leave Saudi Arabia isolated in major conflict - analysis

Muslims perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, September 14, 2026.

Even an attack on Mecca isn't enough to unite the Middle East against Iran, analyst tells 'Post'


Normalization? The Mecca sermon no one in the West wants to hear - opinion

Two days before the horrific terror attack in Sydney, the designated weekly preacher in Mecca delivered a sermon that was openly antisemitic, anti-Jewish, and anti-Israel.

A HEAD PRIEST delivers eid sermon during Eid al-Adha prayers at the Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar, India, on June 7, 2025.

Saudi Arabia executes two people for plotting attacks on places of worship

The two men also planned attacks against security facilities and personnel, Saudi state news agency SPA reported, citing a statement from the interior ministry.

 Saudi security forces train in preparation for the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 3, 2022.

Saudi authorities release Iranian cleric arrested for bad mouthing Kingdom, Sunnah

Iranian cleric Ghasemian was arrested in Mecca for insulting Saudi Arabia but was quickly released and returned to Iran before completing Hajj. Both countries downplayed the incident.

 Muslims perform their evening prayers around the holy Kaaba as they start arriving to perform the annual Haj in the Grand Mosque, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2023.

Tehran pushes for Saudi Arabia to release Iranian cleric who posted critical video

Gholamreza Qassemian posted a video in which he heavily criticized Saudi Arabia for enabling moral corruption in the kingdom.

 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a joint press conference with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Tehran, Iran, February 25, 2025.

Hundreds reportedly died at this year's Hajj in Saudi Arabia

Over 1.83 million Muslims from 22 countries participated in the pilgrimage this year. Significant security presence at the hospital when an official read out the names of the deceased.

Muslim pilgrims take part in the annual haj pilgrimage in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2024.

Iran's Khamenei politicizes Hajj again, calls for global dissociation from Israel

His statements of address during this year's Hajj echo his historical pattern of using the pilgrimage as a platform for political statements against Israel and the US.

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia August 16, 2018

Fourteen Jordanians die during hajj in Saudi Arabia, some succumb to heat

Stampedes, tent fires, heat and other factors have caused hundreds of deaths at the event over the past 30 years.

Muslim pilgrims cast their stones at a pillar symbolising Satan, during the annual haj pilgrimage in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2024.

Syrian pilgrims regain ability to make Hajj thanks to improving relations with Saudi Arabia

Under the auspices of the kingdom's Crown Prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has played a leading role in Syria’s gradual reintegration into the regional fold.

 Muslims perform their evening prayers around the holy Kaaba as they start arriving to perform the annual Haj in the Grand Mosque, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2023.

Israel will have direct flights to Mecca by 2024, FM Cohen predicts

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had hoped it could arrange for direct flights between the two countries, even in advance of the deal, but to date, those efforts have not borne fruit.

 Muslims perform their evening prayers around the holy Kaaba as they start arriving to perform the annual Haj in the Grand Mosque, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2023.

Saudi-Iran thaw improves haj services for Iranian pilgrims

Sayid Mahdi, who will be in charge of around 2,800 Iranian pilgrims that will perform haj next week, said Saudi Arabia has been more cooperative in finding hotels for Iranians this year.

 Muslims perform their evening prayers around the holy Kaaba as they start arriving to perform the annual Haj in the Grand Mosque, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2023.