Najaf airport says it handled more than 125,000 arrivals in first 19 days of Safar

NAJAF, Iraq — Najaf International Airport said it received 125,595 arriving passengers and recorded 88,653 departures during the first 19 days of the Islamic month of Safar, a period marked by a surge in religious travel to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. Airport spokesman Ammar al-Tufayli said 845 flights were operated during the period, adding that air traffic had remained heavy as the inflow of visitors continued. The airport has previously stepped up preparations ahead of the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, which falls on the 20th of Safar in the Hijri calendar and draws millions of pilgrims to Najaf and Karbala each year. The figures underscore Najaf airport's role as one of the main gateways for pilgrims heading to Karbala for Arbaeen, which commemorates the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.