Millions of Iranians poured into the streets across the country to mark International Quds Day, an annual event held to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause and condemn US and Israeli actions in the region.

Observed on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, Quds Day is commemorated with mass rallies in cities across Iran. This year, large crowds gathered in major cities including Tehran, voicing strong support for Palestinians.

This year’s observance comes amid ongoing military attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran. The strikes, which have continued for more than two weeks, have reportedly killed over 1,300 people and injured more than 10,000, including women, children and students.

Demonstrators carried Iranian and Palestinian flags and held images of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly elected leader of the Islamic Revolution. In Tehran’s Enqelab Square, participants chanted “God is Great” after explosions were heard during the rally as airstrikes targeted schools, hospitals, police stations and historical sites.

The rallies reflected a strong atmosphere of defiance and unity, with participants reaffirming their loyalty to the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, and his vision of the liberation of Palestine.

President Masoud Pezeshkian urged citizens through social media to take part in the marches and disappoint Iran’s enemies through massive participation. Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf also said the annual event has become a “nightmare” for the “fake and child-killing Zionist regime.”

Ayatollah Khamenei, in a public message on Thursday, also called on people worldwide to participate in Quds Day events, describing them as a symbol of unity against oppression.

Despite heavy snow, rain and cold weather in some areas, large crowds continued to march in cities across Iran. The main rally in Tehran began at multiple locations and converged at the University of Tehran, where Qur’an recitations, speeches and chants condemning Israeli actions in Gaza were held.

International Quds Day was first proposed by Imam Khomeini in 1979, designating the last Friday of Ramadan as a day of global solidarity with the Palestinian people. Over the decades, it has become a symbol of resistance against Israeli occupation, with rallies held across West Asia, North Africa and in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

Similar demonstrations were also reported this year in countries including Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Pakistan, where large crowds gathered to express support for Palestine.