Al-Sudais declares Haj a success

September 16, 2016

Jeddah, Sep 16: Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques chief Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais said this year’s Haj was a success and “the presidency was able to implement its plans and measures for the Haj season this year, which contributed to making the performance of the Haj rituals easy and comfortable.”

He said the presidency had come up with a package of measures and procedures in preparation for the Haj season this year, meant to address issues like receiving pilgrims and ensuring that all services and facilities are in place for them to perform the Haj.

He said the Mataf area was prepared to absorb as many pilgrims as possible, thus allowing for a successful and easy tawaf and sa’ee.

Pilgrims also benefited from the expansion of the northern spaces and other floors, which enabled them to perform the rites and rituals smoothly and successfully.

Al-Sudais praised the 24-hour guidance program and the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which distributed millions of guidance booklets and awareness pamphlets around the Grand Mosque, and had words of praise for other services, such as provision of air conditioning, lighting, cleaning services, zamzam water, and services for people with special needs.

Al-Sudais thanked the employees of the presidency who performed their jobs responsibly and contributed to the success of the Haj this year, as well as other authorities involved in the pilgrimage, such as the Ministry of Interior, Makkah municipality, the Civil Defense, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, the Red Crescent and the Makkah governorate.

He prayed to Allah to protect Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman as well as Muslims around the world.

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Syrian Town erupts after Israeli forces enter Beit Jinn; heavy casualties reported

News Network

November 28,2025

Several Syrians were killed and more than two dozen others injured in Israeli strikes on the outskirts of Damascus, amid intensified incursions by the occupying regime since the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad and the rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rule.

Syrian state TV reported that the casualties occurred during an overnight Israeli assault involving helicopters and drones on the town of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside. The attack followed an Israeli military unit’s entry into the town, where they were surrounded by local residents, leading to gunfire and direct confrontations.

According to the report, “The occupation army’s helicopters and artillery shelled Beit Jinn, located at the foothills of Mount Hermon, resulting in 13 martyrs and 25 injured civilians.” The broadcaster did not specify the full extent of damage.

Al-Ikhbariyah Syria confirmed that the shelling coincided with Israeli soldiers entering Beit Jinn, while artillery pounded surrounding areas. The broadcaster stated that the escalation began after local residents clashed with an Israeli patrol that had infiltrated the southern town and “kidnapped” three young men.

Following a two-hour exchange of heavy fire, Israeli forces withdrew and repositioned on the hill of Butt al-Warda at the town’s outskirts.

Israeli media acknowledged that six soldiers were wounded in the clashes—three of them seriously—describing the confrontation as a “sudden ambush” that forced the deployment of reserve units and air support to secure an exit route. No further details were provided.

The aggression has fueled renewed displacement from Beit Jinn, with residents fleeing to nearby villages amid increasingly frequent Israeli attacks.

The raid came just a day after Israeli troops carried out another ground incursion into Umm al-Luqas village in Quneitra province. According to SANA, an Israeli unit in four vehicles entered the village, raided several homes, and later withdrew.

Syria condemned the repeated incursions as violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and UN resolutions, urging the international community to enforce compliance and pressure Israel to halt its operations and withdraw fully.

Israel has expanded its attacks across Syrian territory following the collapse of the Assad government last year. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly instructed his forces to push deeper into Syrian territory and seize strategic positions.

Meanwhile, critics say the HTS-led interim government’s inaction and growing normalization gestures toward Israel have emboldened Tel Aviv to intensify its military operations. HTS, formerly linked to al-Qaeda, seized control of Damascus last December, formally ending Assad’s rule.

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