Ramadan crescent moon spotted in Saudi Arabia, month of fasting starts on March 10 for many

Start of Ramadan marked by crescent moon sighting in Saudi Arabia, amid global conflict and humanitarian concerns.

Officials saw the crescent moon on Sunday night in Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, marking the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan for many of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims.

The sacred month, which sees those observing abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset, marks a period of religious reflection, family get-togethers and giving across the Muslim world. Seeing the moon on Sunday night means Monday is the first day of the fast.

Saudi state television reported authorities there saw the crescent moon. However, there are some Asian countries, like Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, that will begin Ramadan on Tuesday after failing to see the crescent moon.

This year's Ramadan comes as West Asia remains inflamed by Israel's ongoing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. That's raised fears that the conflict may spark unrest far beyond the current borders of the war. Meanwhile, inflation and high prices of food around the world since the pandemic continue to pinch

In Saudi Arabia, the kingdom had been urging the public to watch the skies from Sunday night in preparation for the sighting of the crescent moon. Ramadan works on a lunar calendar and moon-sighting methodologies often vary between countries, meaning some nations declare the start of the month earlier or later.

However, many Sunni-dominated nations in West Asia follow the lead of Saudi Arabia, home to Mecca and the Kaaba that Muslims pray toward five times a day.

In Iran, which views itself as the worldwide leader of Islam's minority branch Shiites, authorities typically begin Ramadan a day after Sunnis start.