Kurds in northern Iraq celebrate the new year festival of Nowruz, in photos

AKRA, Iraq (AP) —

Thousands of Kurds celebrate the new year festival of Nowruz in the hub city of Akra in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. They wear traditional Kurdish clothes, climb a mountain holding torches, launch fireworks and play 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 have braved rainy weather and the war to come to Akra for the festival say it is important to mark the occasion.

The celebration's main event involves thousands of people in a procession up the mountain carrying torches, symbolizing freedom and the arrival of spring.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.