Amid the Saudi-Houthi Conflict, Umrah Pilgrimage Remains Smooth

BANTUL, KOMPAS – Indonesian umrah pilgrims are reported to be safe and their journeys proceeding smoothly amid the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group. However, the Indonesian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah continues to communicate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to monitor the situation's developments.

This was stated by Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf in response to a reporter's question in Bantul, DI Yogyakarta, on Friday afternoon (23/10/2026). Irfan was attending the opening of the Jogja Expo for MSMEs and the Hajj and Umrah Ecosystem 2026, organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

"Umrah pilgrims, the latest report, Thank God everything went smoothly. Especially the direct flights, (flights) that were direct, not in transit," said Irfan.

Irfan said that for pilgrims whose flights require transit before heading to Jeddah (the closest airport to Mecca) or Medina, there have been some delays. However, he said these delays were not significant.

He stated that the Ministry of Religious Affairs communicates daily with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh, and the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah to monitor the situation. "If there are any concerning developments, they will certainly inform us," he said.

Irfan stated that, so far, the umrah pilgrimage has been proceeding smoothly and safely. He mentioned that he has also met with the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia, who conveyed that everything is still going well for umrah. "Because Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah have remained conducive," he said.

As previously reported, the Houthi group based in Yemen has recently intensified missile and drone attacks on various locations in Saudi Arabia. Most recently, according to a Reuters report, an attack occurred at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday night (21/10/2026) local time.

According to the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority, the attack resulted in the death of one civilian and injured eight others. However, shortly thereafter, the authority announced that King Fahd Airport had resumed operations.

The Houthi attack on an airport in Saudi Arabia, which resulted in numerous casualties, occurred on October 10, 2026. At that time, missile and drone strikes targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. According to an AFP report, the attack killed 13 people and injured more than 300 others.

Previously, the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen accused the Houthis of attempting to launch an attack on Madinah. However, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree denied this claim, as reported by Reuters.

This month, the Houthi movement has warned airlines against using Saudi Arabian airspace as they intensify their attacks on the country. Only the airspace over the two holy cities of Islam, Mecca and Medina, is exempt from this warning.

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