US-Israel vs Iran Conflict Heats Up, Umrah Pilgrims from Surabaya Remain Calm in Makkah
Makkah — Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East following the conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran have raised concerns amongst Indonesian umrah pilgrims. However, Ustadz Nur Fauzi Palestin, the Religious Guide and Tour Leader for Nurul Hayat Haji and Umrah Travel in Surabaya, has assured that the pilgrims under his supervision remain safe and in a conducive situation.
“I am currently in Makkah. Admittedly, the US-Israel conflict is quite concerning, especially after Iran successfully bombed a US military base in Riyadh last night. But so far, Makkah, including the Haram area, is in a safe condition without any panic,” said Ustadz Fauzi when contacted by Republika.co.id on Monday (2 March 2026).
This Secretary of the East Java Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for Fatwa and Halal Affairs stated that worship activities at the Grand Mosque (Masjidil Haram) are proceeding normally. Pilgrims continue to perform their umrah rites with devotion whilst monitoring developments in the situation.
According to him, one interesting occurrence took place during the Witr prayer at Masjidil Haram. Usually, the imam recites a fairly lengthy qunut (supplication), but this time it was different. “Last night, Sheikh Sudais performed without qunut. Perhaps he forgot or something else happened, only God knows,” he said.
Amid the escalating situation, the repatriation process for pilgrims continues according to schedule. However, there are obstacles for pilgrims using certain airlines.
Based on information updates as of 1 March 2026, several airlines have decided to cancel or suspend flights affected by the conflict. Airlines that have reportedly cancelled or suspended services include Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, IndiGo, SriLankan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Royal Brunei Airlines, and Oman Air.
“To date, repatriation continues according to schedule (4 March 2026), except for those using Scoot aircraft, which has officially ceased operations following the US attack on Iran,” said Nur Fauzi.
Meanwhile, several airlines have been reported to remain operational, namely Hainan Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Saudia, and Lion Air.
Ustadz Nur Fauzi, who is accompanying 25 pilgrims from Nurul Hayat Travel Surabaya, has emphasised that the organisation continues to coordinate with local authorities and airlines to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.
“We here always pray for the safety and peace of the world. Hopefully, there are still those who place humanity above everything else,” he said.
He also requested prayers from the Indonesian community and hoped that relevant parties would actively monitor developments in the situation. “If necessary, there should be anticipatory and preventive measures to ensure the safety of the pilgrims and those residing in Saudi Arabia, including migrant workers,” he added.