Thousands of people hit the streets of Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region on Tuesday night to welcome 2020 with fireworks, music and dancing. Restaurants and cafes bustled with customers and tourists as parties went on throughout the night, with fireworks lighting up the city sky. The city was adorned with lights for the Christmas and New Year period. City authorities stepped up security and traffic measures in preparation for the influx of visitors. Photos by Bilind T. Abdullah
