The Grand Mosque seizure in Mecca began when about 200 Sunni Muslims, led by Juhayman al-Otaybi, stormed the mosque on the first day of the Hajj pilgrimage, a critical period for millions of Muslims around the world. The insurgents, who were deeply dissatisfied with the Saudi monarchy and its association with Western powers, took control of the mosque and took around 6,000 pilgrims hostage. They asserted that they were fighting against the corrupting influences of Westernization on Islamic values and believed that they were enforcing a purer form of Islam as represented by their leader, who claimed to be the Mahdi. The Saudi government was faced with an unprecedented security crisis; the symbolism of the mosque to the Muslim faith made the situation particularly sensitive and precarious.In response, the Saudi government mobilized a significant military presence, deploying soldiers to encircle the area. Realizing the magnitude of the operation required, they reached out to France for specialized assistance in counter-terrorism tactics. French special forces arrived to assist in tactically retaking the mosque, employing intelligence and military strategies. After several days of intense conflict within the mosque, which resulted in numerous casualties, security forces finally regained control, ending the siege. The incident significantly altered Saudi domestic policy and security protocols, firmly establishing a precedent for future government responses to Islamic extremism within the kingdom.