Iranian pilgrims cross into Iraq for wartime Arbaeen

Iranian pilgrims crossed into Iraq for Arbaeen, the major Shia Muslim commemoration, in the first pilgrimage season since war broke out in the region.

At Iraq's al-Zurbatiyah border crossing, some pilgrims carried portraits of slain Iranian leader Ali Khamenei. Some also stamped on a portrait of US President Donald Trump, raised their fists or made victory signs.

Arbaeen marks the 40th day of mourning for Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed and a founding figure in Shia Islam. Millions of pilgrims travel each year to Karbala in Iraq, where Hussein and his brother Abbas are buried.

Iraqi authorities said Friday that about 3.5 million foreign pilgrims had entered Iraq so far for this year's Arbaeen.

The pilgrimage comes during a war that began with a US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28 and has also affected Iraq. The item said US-Saudi strikes killed 20 militants, including five Iranians, across seven Iraqi provinces after Riyadh accused pro-Iran armed groups of attacking its territory.

Amir, a 55-year-old Iranian pick-up driver attending Arbaeen, said this year's pilgrimage felt different because “we are at war”. Another pilgrim, Hamed Kameli, said his presence in Iraq was different from previous years because of what he called aggression against his country.