Jembrana Resident Survives Middle East War Turmoil While on Umrah

Tensions erupted in the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and the United States (US) with Iran widened. Amid the dangerous situation, a family from Jembrana, Bali, on an Umrah pilgrimage, successfully survived and arrived back in the homeland. Valensyah Rozika, an employee at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) Jembrana, together with her husband and two children, experienced the international tensions. She even felt afraid when returning home after completing their solo Umrah. Valensyah said the family departed for Saudi Arabia on 18 February 2026. However, towards the end of their journey, precisely on 28 February, armed conflict broke out. “Missile launches began on the night of 28 February, initially from the United States to Iran. Our position was still in Madinah, so we were surely panicked,” Valensyah said when she spoke to detikBali at her office on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. The situation at the airport at that time was very tense. Almost all flight schedules to and from Saudi Arabia were cancelled due to security risks in the Middle East airspace. Fortunately, she managed to secure the only flight still operating to Indonesia on 1 March 2026. “At Madinah Airport it was very quiet. Coincidentally, thankfully, there was just one plane that could depart and it happened to be bound for Jakarta, Indonesia. The entire aircraft’s passengers were Indonesians only,” Valensyah said. In the first attack, Valensyah’s account indicates that daily life for residents was minimal. Even the airport was very quiet. “People reduced activities; it was extremely quiet at the airport, with only one flight. It was only the first attack, so there had not been retaliation yet, so that’s all I know,” she said. Despite the continuing fighting in the Middle East, the Office of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) Jembrana confirmed that there has been no impact yet on the plans for prospective Hajj pilgrims. The Head of Kemenhaj Jembrana, Muslihin, emphasised that the departure schedule for 90 prospective Jembrana pilgrims forming Group 70 remains on track, set for 8 May 2026. “Information from the ministry is that there has been no cancellation of Hajj for this year. So all pre-departure steps will proceed as planned,” Muslihin asserted. While the Hajj ceremony itself is continuing on schedule, Muslihin urged Jembrana residents intending to perform Umrah by themselves or via travel agencies to postpone their departure for the time being. “In these circumstances, those going for Umrah should delay until the Middle East situation subsides,” he said. Muslihin hopes the fighting in the Middle East will end soon so that the Guests of Allah, especially the 90 pilgrims from Jembrana, can perform the fifth pillar of Islam with a sense of safety and ease. “Hopefully all of this ends soon,” he added.