Iraqi Kurds celebrate Nowruz amid security concerns and Iran war

(20 Mar 2026) RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY: UPDATES SPELLING OF AKRA AND STORYLINE++ ASSOCIATED PRESS Akra, Iraq – 20 March 2026 1. Various of Kurds celebrating and dancing 2. Various of people gathered and watching celebrations 3. Various of men dancing, playing music 4. Women participating in celebrations 5. Various of woman posing for photos by mountain 6. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Nasir Abdulrahman, Nowruz celebration attendee: “We have seen the Nowruz celebrations in Akra on TV and social media and that they hold beautiful and massive celebrations, as it is known, here is the capital of Nowruz in Kurdistan. So, we loved that and wanted to come here and participate by wearing our Kurdish traditional clothing, to see and feel the joy of Nowruz closely.” 7. People lighting torches ++NIGHT SHOT++ 8. Various of Kurds carrying lit torches and climbing mountain ++NIGHT SHOTS++ 9. Close of fire on mountain ++NIGHT SHOT++ 10. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Iman Mohammed, Nowruz celebration attendee from Irbil: ++NIGHT SHOT++ “Of course, I see that this year’s celebration is unique compared to previous years and is apart from the sense of belonging to the nation and the patriotic spirit that we already celebrate Nowruz for. Our colleagues in eastern Kurdistan are exposed to severe attacks. Therefore, I see this year’s celebration as very special and I came here with a new spirit.” 11. Various of people carrying torches and climbing mountain ++NIGHT SHOTS++ 12. Wide of city 13. Man holding lit torch and Kurdish flag ++NIGHT SHOS++ 14. Wide of people climbing mountain ++NIGHT SHOT++ STORYLINE: Thousands of Kurds celebrated the new year festival of Nowruz in the hub city of Akra in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. They wore traditional Kurdish clothes, climbed a mountain holding torches, launched fireworks and played music. This year's celebration takes place against the backdrop of the regional war launched against Iran by the U.S. and Israel. The Kurdish region has faced near-daily attacks from Iran-backed militias targeting U.S. assets and Iranian Kurdish groups. This year's festivities are more muted than in previous years, but those who braved the rainy weather and the war came to Akra for the festival as they said it was important to mark the occasion. The celebration's main event involves thousands of people marching up a mountain in a procession, carrying torches which symbolise freedom and the arrival of spring. AP video shot by: Rashid Yahya =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...