More than 1.5 million Muslims begin the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, filling a large tent city as the journey takes place amid hopes that conflict in the Middle East may soon end. Multiple outlets report that pilgrims arrive in waves by bus or on foot to the Mina encampment after completing early rites at the Grand Mosque. They perform tawaf, walking seven times around the Kaaba—the large black cube at the center of the mosque—before moving to Mina. The coverage places the start of hajj against a broader regional backdrop, noting that ongoing peace efforts and expectations for de-escalation remain in focus. One report also mentions that temperatures reach about 45°C during the initial days of the pilgrimage. Overall, the sources describe the start of hajj operations and the movement of large crowds between Mecca’s main sacred sites and Mina as pilgrims take part in the established sequence of rites.