Arab world marks start of Eid al-Adha 

AMMAN, Jordan

Muslims across the Arab world celebrated the start of Eid al-Adha festival, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage.

In Jordan, thousands of worshipers flocked to prayer grounds to perform the Eid prayers.

Following the prayers, many began to slaughter their animals, a ritual that commemorates the readiness of Prophet Ibrahim -- also known as Abraham to Christians and Jews -- to sacrifice his son on God’s command.

In Kuwait, thousands attended the Eid prayers in mosques across the Gulf country, with preachers calling for rallying efforts to combat terrorism.

Thousands attended the morning prayers in the holy Saudi city of Makkah with the preacher calling for solidarity among Muslims worldwide.

In Algeria, preachers called during the Eid sermon for maintaining stability in a country that survived popular uprisings that swept several Arab countries in 2011.

This year’s prayer, however, was marked by the absence of ailing Algerian President Abdulaziz Bouteflika.

In war-torn Yemen, thousands of worshipers prayed for peace in the Arab country, which fell into civil war in late 2014 when Houthi rebels overran the capital Sanaa.