Al Mayadeen English
With over 1.47 million international pilgrims already arriving for the 2025 Hajj, Saudi Arabia continues to enforce strict regulations to prevent overcrowding and heat deaths during the pilgrimage. A long-standing quota system allocates Hajj slots by country based on its population, while entry restrictions ahead of the Hajj seasons are tightened to curb unauthorized pilgrims, which the Saudi Ministry of Interior warned against. Otherwise, performing or attempting to perform Hajj without a permit can result in a 20,000 SAR (5331.89 USD) fine, deportation, and a 10-year re-entry ban into the country.
Marion Kawas
Robert Inlakesh
Leila Nicolas on 'Israel's' aggression on Beirut
Leila Nicolas, lecturer and author in international affairs, tells Al Mayadeen that “Israel” is now turning to political pressure, via ceasefires, US influence, and diplomatic tools, to secure what it failed to achieve on the battlefield. She says the escalation of airstrikes and assassinations, including the targeting of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, marks a shift in strategy amid its failures on the ground. Despite the losses inflicted on civilians, Nicolas argues that the intensified attacks have led to a rare moment of political clarity in Lebanon.
