Iraq: Pilgrims in Iraq walk through Najaf en route to Karbala for Arbaeen ceremonies.

SHOTLIST: NAJAF, IRAQ (AUG. 2, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF DRONE SHOTS OF PILGRIMS WALKING TOWARD KARBALA 2. VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS HOLDING FLAGS, WALKING THROUGH NAJAF AND PRAYING DURING ARBAEEN PILGRIMAGENAJAF, IRAQ - AUG. 2: Thousdands of Pilgrims walked through Najaf on Sunday, Aug. 2, toward Karbala to take part in Arbaeen commemorations marking the 40th day after the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandson Imam Hussein and his 72 companions. The pilgrims travelled through the southern Iraqi city before continuing toward the shrines of Imam Hussein and his brother Al-Abbas in Karbala. Along the route, groups of pilgrims paused to perform prayers in congregation before resuming their journey. The annual religious observances continued despite temperatures reaching 48 degrees Celsius in the Iraqi holy city. Thousands of Iranian pilgrims also visit Iraq every year for Arbaeen, a major religious gathering for Shia Muslims. Arbaeen falls on the 20th of Safar in the Islamic calendar, forty days after Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein and his 72 companions in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.