The kingdom’s moon-sighting committee confirmed that Thursday will complete 30 days of Ramadan, with Eid falling the following day, in line with the Islamic lunar calendar.

Eid al-Fitr is observed on the first day of Shawwal, the month that follows Ramadan, and its start is determined by the sighting of the new crescent moon.

Saudi Arabia, which hosts Islam’s holiest sites, is often followed by several countries in announcing the festival date, though others rely on local moon sightings or astronomical calculations.

The announcement is expected to influence Eid observances across parts of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, where communities often align with Saudi Arabia’s declaration.

Countries that did not sight the moon on Wednesday are likely to mark Eid on Friday, while others may confirm based on local observations.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and is observed with prayers, charitable giving and communal gatherings.

Authorities typically prepare for large congregational prayers and increased travel during the holiday period, one of the busiest times of the year across Muslim-majority countries.

Emergency services responded to the site shortly after the impact, transporting the injured to nearby hospitals while security teams secured the surrounding neighborhood, according to officials familiar with the incident. The identities of the victims were not immediately released, and authorities did not specify the precise type or origin of the projectile.Local authorities said the injured were receiving medical treatment and that several sustained moderate wounds. Civil defense personnel also assessed structural damage to nearby homes and vehicles, which appeared to have been struck by debris from the blast.Investigation underwaySaudi security officials said an investigation had been launched to determine the trajectory and source of the projectile. Initial assessments focused on whether the strike was linked to ongoing regional hostilities that have periodically spilled across borders in recent years.Officials said forensic teams were examining fragments recovered from the site while military radar data was being reviewed to reconstruct the object’s path before impact.Residents in the area reported hearing a loud explosion that rattled windows and triggered panic among families before emergency crews arrived. Authorities urged the public to avoid the affected zone while investigators completed their work.Civilian areas exposed to regional tensionsThe incident comes amid heightened regional tensions that have periodically placed civilian infrastructure and residential districts at risk. Saudi Arabia has previously reported projectile and drone strikes targeting cities and energy facilities during periods of heightened conflict in the Middle East.Security analysts say such incidents highlight the vulnerability of populated areas to spillover from broader geopolitical confrontations. While Saudi air defense systems intercept many incoming threats, officials acknowledge that some projectiles can evade interception and cause casualties.Authorities reiterated that emergency response systems remain on high alert and that additional security assessments are being conducted in the aftermath of the strike.Medical teams continued treating the wounded late on Sunday while civil defense units cleared debris and inspected nearby buildings for potential structural hazards.