Over 100 Shias cancel tickets to Najaf in Iraq

LUCKNOW: The crisis in Middle East after Iran’s missile attacks on the US bases in Iraq has forced over 100 Shia Muslims from the city to cancel air tickets to Iraq’s Najaf, one of the holiest places for Shias.
The Indian government had issued an advisory to its nationals to avoid visiting Iraq for their own safety following the attack last week, particularly after it was revealed that a Ukrainian flight with 176 passengers crashed after being hit by a missile.TOI spoke to several tour operators, who confirmed that over 100 cancellations have taken so far.
According to a tour operator, Kamal Abbas, he has cancelled four tour packages for Iraq and every package had nearly a dozen passengers.
Shia cleric Maulana Saif Abbas said, “Seventeen members of my family had a plan to visit Iraq, but have cancelled tickets. They are now planning to fly to Iran and travel to Najaf in Iraq by road.”