Lebanese Shiites take part in an Ashoura procession amid buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes, when Shiites commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Iranians attend a mourning ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, prior to Ashoura, which commemorates the 7th-century martyrdom of Imam Hussein, one of Prophet Muhammad's grandsons and one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, and 72 of his companions, who were killed in a battle in Karbala in present-day Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Hezbollah supporters sit in front of a giant billboard, that shows the two late hezbollah leaders Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, centre, with other Hezbollah killed commanders, as they listen to the death story of Imam Hussein during the holy day of Ashoura in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A man carries a torch in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, June 25, 2026, while re-enacting the enemy of Imam Hussein in the battle of Karbala in A.D. 680 in present-day Iraq, in which the Imam, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, and his family and companions were killed after refusing to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliphate. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A Hezbollah supporter attends the holy day of Ashoura that commemorates the 7th century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein, in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Lebanese Shiites take part in an Ashoura procession amid buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes, when Shiites commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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Iranians attend a mourning ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, prior to Ashoura, which commemorates the 7th-century martyrdom of Imam Hussein, one of Prophet Muhammad's grandsons and one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, and 72 of his companions, who were killed in a battle in Karbala in present-day Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Hezbollah supporters sit in front of a giant billboard, that shows the two late hezbollah leaders Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, centre, with other Hezbollah killed commanders, as they listen to the death story of Imam Hussein during the holy day of Ashoura in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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A man carries a torch in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, June 25, 2026, while re-enacting the enemy of Imam Hussein in the battle of Karbala in A.D. 680 in present-day Iraq, in which the Imam, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, and his family and companions were killed after refusing to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliphate. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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A Hezbollah supporter attends the holy day of Ashoura that commemorates the 7th century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein, in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
War, loss and remembrance shaped the observances this year in Lebanon and Iran of Ashoura, one of Shiite Islam's most important religious days, commemorating the death of a grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
In Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Lebanon's capital, Beirut, tens of thousands gathered in synchronized processions, beating their chests in remembrance of Hussein — Muhammad's grandson — and in remembrance of loved ones killed in the recent war between the Hezbollah militant group and Israel.
In the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh, smaller commemorations unfolded next to the scars of Israeli airstrikes. Smoke from an airstrike on the outskirts of the city underscored the fragility of the current ceasefire. Some participants performed ritual bloodletting by making ceremonial cuts to their heads.
In Iran's capital, Tehran, residents gathered for ceremonies and processions, many beating their heads and chests. Devotees with torches set fire to tents in a reenactment of the battle in 680 A.D. when Hussein was killed.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
