Pilgrims Gather at Mount Arafat Despite Security Fears

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Riyadh: Thousands of Muslim pilgrims gathered at Mount Arafat near Makkah for the spiritual climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam.

This year’s pilgrimage comes amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East following recent conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, along with travel advisories issued by several Western countries.

Despite the uncertainty, worshippers from across the world continued arriving in Saudi Arabia, saying faith and devotion outweighed fears of instability.

Many pilgrims described the journey as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity they could not miss, even as concerns remain over the possibility of renewed regional conflict and travel disruptions.

Saudi authorities continue extensive preparations and crowd management efforts as more than a million pilgrims take part in the sacred rituals.