Middle East Portrait: Bittersweet Eid al-Adha Celebrations Amid Conflict

Eid al-Adha is celebrated across the Middle East, with fireworks illuminating skies in some cities and families gathering for Eid prayers. In quieter areas, livestock markets are busy with those able to afford sacrificial animals, while others share sweets and cakes with neighbours, maintaining traditions as best they can.

However, for millions across the Middle East and beyond, this year’s celebrations are overshadowed by war, displacement, and economic hardship. In Gaza, Sudan, and parts of Lebanon, homes lie in ruins and many cannot afford sacrificial animals or even adequate food. The familiar scents of incense and freshly baked sweets have been replaced by distant artillery fire and the silent pain of loss.