Millions of Shiite pilgrims make a pilgrimage to Karbala, Iraq, to ​​commemorate the death of Imam Hussein.

KARBALA, Iraq (AP) — Millions of Shiite Muslims filled the streets of the Iraqi city of Karbala on Saturday on their annual pilgrimage to commemorate the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who became a symbol of resistance in the turbulent first century of Islamic history.

Tahseen Al-Khafaji, head of the Iraqi security media cell, said more than three million pilgrims had entered the country by Friday amid tight security.

This year, Arba'een – the Arabic word for the number 40 and traditionally the end of a period of mourning – was marked by mourning over the war in Gaza, which has now lasted for 11 months. There are also concerns that the war could escalate into a regional conflict. Tensions between Israel and Iran have increased after the leader of the Palestinian terror group Hamas was killed in an explosion. Ismail Haniya, in Tehran last month.

Hussein's death deepened the division between the two main Islamic sects, Sunni and Shiite. For many Muslims, however, this division has now faded into the background because they share anger and grief over the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 40,000 have been killed so far. The war between Israel and Hamas broke out after the group's surprise attack on southern Israel that killed nearly 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.

Pilgrims typically flock from around the world to celebrate Arbaeen on the 20th day of Safar, the second month of the Islamic lunar calendar each year. The climax is the site where Hussein and his half-brother Imam Abbas were killed during the Battle of Karbala, which many see as a reminder of the Shiite community's unity during centuries of unrest.

“May God never take this solidarity away from us,” said Amad Zarepoor, who had traveled from Iran.

On Saturday, the rhythmic sound of pilgrims beating their chests and heads as they circled the Imam Hussein shrine filled the air.

One of the busiest points is the Iraqi-Iranian border crossing of Mandali in the northern Iraqi province of Diyala. Sinan al Shemmeri, a spokesman for the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of predominantly Shiite militias allied with Iransaid that the border crossing was “not only for Iranian brothers, but also for people of various other nationalities, for example from Azerbaijan and Pakistan.”

Volunteers could be seen lining the nearly 113-kilometer-long road from the Iraqi capital Baghdad to Karbala, offering food to weary pilgrims.

“Everything we offer is to remember and serve our master (Hussein),” said Hussein Ali, a volunteer in Baghdad.

Iranian pilgrim Ali Bagheri expressed his joy at the Iraqi hospitality. “I am again a guest of Iraqis,” he said. “I am very happy that I can walk this path with Iraqis and that we can make a pilgrimage.”

Despite the celebrations, this year's Arbaeen festival was also marred by a bus accident. in central Iran On Wednesday, 28 passengers were killed and 23 others were injured, 14 of them seriously.

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Associated Press writers Mohammed Khairullah in Diyala, Iraq, and Ali Abdul Hassan in Baghdad contributed to this report.