logo
Images Show U.S. Patriot Missiles Deployed for Muslim Hajj Pilgrimage

Images Show U.S. Patriot Missiles Deployed for Muslim Hajj Pilgrimage

Newsweek05-06-2025
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense has released images of U.S.-made Raytheon MIM-104 Patriot missile systems deployed to protect Mecca and the Grand Mosque during the ongoing Hajj pilgrimage.
The same system has previously been used to intercept Houthi-launched missiles.
Newsweek has reached out to the Saudi government for comment.
Why It Matters
The kingdom has stepped up a multi-layered security approach to manage over 1.5 million Hajj pilgrims this year, deploying advanced air defense and surveillance systems and enhancing military ground forces' coordination with civil police.
The deployment of the Patriot missile system underscores Saudi Arabia's reliance on American-made air defense technology, a cornerstone of its defense strategy, also notable in its recent acquisition of Lockheed's THAAD system, which operates over longer ranges.
A U.S. Army MIM-104 Patriot Missile launcher on display at Holloman Air Force Base.
A U.S. Army MIM-104 Patriot Missile launcher on display at Holloman Air Force Base.
Jon G. Fuller / VWPics/AP Images
What To Know
"Air defense forces... an eye that never sleeps, its mission is the safety of Muslim pilgrims," read the Saudi Defense Ministry's Arabic-language caption above photos of the Patriot missile system.
لم يعد مقبول ان تقوم منظومات دفاع صناعة امريكية ويتحكم بها خبراء امريكيين بحماية أجواء مكة المكرمة والمدنية،
ان لم تصنع السعودية منظومات دفاع وهذا مستبعد قريبًا، فالافضل اللجوء الى منظومات دفاع موثوقة بدأت تنتجها تركيا المسلمة
في اي وقت ومع اي خلاف سياسي يمكن لامريكا سحبها او… https://t.co/iYgzcz9uWL pic.twitter.com/bzlwBxuBPk — الرادع المغربي 🇲🇦🔻🇵🇸 (@Rd_fas1) June 5, 2025
Some social media uders speculated it was a show of force to the Yemeni Houthis, which the kingdom has fought since 2015. "May God strengthen you and may God return the plots of the pagan Houthis back upon them," a username called Abdullah wrote in a comment.
In 2022, the U.S. approved the sale of 300 Raytheon Patriot MIM-104E GEM-T missiles to Saudi Arabia as part of a $3.05 billion defense package, in support for counterattacks from the Houthis.
What People Are Saying
A Saudi-based military blogger account by the username of "SM Military" with more than 100,000 followers on X, translated from Arabic: "From the holy city of Mecca, the Saudi Air Defense's Patriot system stands as a strong shield protecting the most sacred land on earth...A clear message to the world that the security of the Guests of the Merciful is a non-negotiable priority, and that the skies over the Grand Mosque are guarded by vigilant hands that never sleep."
An account in Arabic on X under the name of "The Moroccan Deterrent" with over 246,000 followers: "It is no longer acceptable for American-made defense systems controlled by American experts to protect the airspace of Mecca and its cities. If Saudi Arabia does not manufacture defense systems, which is unlikely in the near future, it would be better to resort to reliable defense systems that Muslim Türkiye has begun to produce. At any time and with any political dispute, America can withdraw or suspend it, and this is known to the leaders of the Saudi army."
What Happens Next
Rituals of the Hajj pilgrimage will continue to unfold over several days this week.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Best Political Tweets 7-25-2025
Best Political Tweets 7-25-2025

Buzz Feed

time24 minutes ago

  • Buzz Feed

Best Political Tweets 7-25-2025

American politics — well, frankly, global politics — is chaos right now, but I find it comforting to know I'm not alone in thinking the world has gone bananas. So, here are 25 of the best, most relatable, and sometimes funny political tweets from the last week: Due to photo rights, the images in the original tweet were replaced with the meme. You can read more about the end of the Trump Foundation here. And finally: See you next week!

‘Pod Save America' on Gabbard's Obama allegations: ‘Crock of s—‘
‘Pod Save America' on Gabbard's Obama allegations: ‘Crock of s—‘

The Hill

time24 minutes ago

  • The Hill

‘Pod Save America' on Gabbard's Obama allegations: ‘Crock of s—‘

'Pod Save America' host Dan Pfeiffer railed against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's accusations that the Obama administration led a 'treasonous coup' over the 2016 election. 'I don't think we should call this a scandal,' said Pfeiffer, a former adviser to President Obama, in a Friday episode of the podcast. 'Like I don't know what else to call it, a crock of s—' 'They can't even explain the allegation. It makes no sense,' he continued. 'This is the most easily debunked thing in the world.' Last week, Gabbard released a report claiming that the Obama administration manipulated intelligence to create a false narrative that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Gabbard then doubled down on the accusation and unsealed a formerly-classified House Intelligence Committee report on Wednesday that cast doubts on the European country's interest in the 2016 election and his desire to aid President Trump. She called the Obama administration's reported actions 'the most egregious weaponization and politicization of intelligence in American history.' Several intelligence reviews have concluded that Russia sought to influence the contest and that President Vladimir Putin favored Trump in the election. Gabbard, at a White House press briefing on Wednesday, claimed that the evidence pointed to Obama as the main instigator of the efforts and said she was looking into possible criminal implications. President Trump backed Gabbard, calling the intelligence assessment 'irrefutable proof that Obama was seditious.' 'I guess the crime is the creating a false narrative,' co-host Jon Favreau, former Obama speechwriter, said on the Friday episode. 'I didn't think a false narrative could be a coup.' The podcast hosts join fellow Democrats in criticizing Gabbard, particularly as fervor grows surrounding the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which Democrats — and even some Republicans — have called to be released. 'It seems as though the Trump administration is willing to declassify anything and everything except the Epstein files,' said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, in a statement. Favreau, on Friday's episode, pondered whether the the administration can 'will this scandal in to existence by repeating 'treasonous coup' over and over again.' .

Wes Moore says Trump denied Maryland disaster assistance after floods
Wes Moore says Trump denied Maryland disaster assistance after floods

The Hill

time24 minutes ago

  • The Hill

Wes Moore says Trump denied Maryland disaster assistance after floods

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said this week that the Trump administration denied disaster assistance to his state after May flooding. A statement issued by his office on Wednesday said that the administration did not approve assistance to the state for flooding that occurred in May, even though the state's estimated damage put it above the threshold it would need to reach in order to get assistance. 'The devastating floods that hit Western Maryland in May clearly met disaster assistance criteria established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These communities demonstrated a clear need through FEMA's own process, and Maryland will appeal the decision to seek all available resources to support the recovery efforts,' Moore said in the statement. He noted that May rainfall caused Georges Creek in Western Maryland to overflow into several towns. The denial is one of several requests that has been turned down by the administration in recent months as it seeks to overhaul FEMA. 'We're going to give out less money,' Trump said of the disaster agency in June. Asked why aid to Maryland was denied, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson on Friday did not give a specific reason. 'The President responds to each request for Federal assistance under the Stafford Act with great care and consideration, ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement—not substitute, their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters,' Jackson said in an email. 'The Trump administration remains committed to empowering and working with State and local governments to invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes, making response less urgent and recovery less prolonged,' she added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store