According to Maqsoud Asadi-Samani, secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines, only an Iraqi airline is operating flights to the neighboring country to transport those holding Iraq residency, Fars News Agency reported.
“Iraq has banned the entry of foreign pilgrims for Arbaeen this year due to the Covid-19 outbreak,” he said.
Each year, millions of pilgrims travel to the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala in the coming weeks for the Arbaeen commemorations—one of the largest annual gatherings of Muslims in the world, which marks the 40th day after Ashura, the day Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) grandson, Hussein ibn Ali (PBUH), was martyred in 680 AD.