Hundreds of thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims have gathered in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala for the annual Ashura commemoration, despite the threat of Sunni extremist attacks.
Iraq's security forces have deployed tens of thousands of troops to protect the pilgrims, who are observing the 7th century death of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hussein, one of Shi'ite Islam's most revered figures. His death marks the rift between Shi'ite and Sunni Islam.
Sunni militants from the Islamic State group have claimed responsibility for multiple deadly attacks against Shi'ites who were traveling to Karbala for Ashura.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch says Islamic State fighters tortured and abused Kurdish children they abducted from the northern Syrian town of Kobani.