Despite Mideast wars, 20 million gather in Iraq for Shia pilgrimage

More than 20 million Shia pilgrims gathered in a shrine city in Iraq for the Arbaeen festival, despite ongoing wars across the Middle East. The massive turnout underscores the religious significance of the event and highlights the resilience of the pilgrimage tradition amid regional instability. Security forces were deployed to manage the crowds, though no major incidents were reported.