Iraq Steps Up Security Ahead of Arbaeen
Major General Qays al-Muhammadawi, a senior Iraqi commander, said 24,000 special forces from the ministries of interior and defense will participate in the security efforts in the following days and weeks, Fajr al-Muqawima website reported.
He added that the Iraqi air force as well as the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) will also contribute to the measures aimed at ensuring security during the mourning rituals.
Arbaeen marks 40 days after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and third Shia Imam.
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias march toward Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites. Many of them also visit Imam Ali’s (AS) holy shrine in Najaf.
In the past few years, around 20 million pilgrims from all over the world, including Iran, took part in the mourning ceremonies in Iraqi holy cities marking Arbaeen.
This year, Arbaeen falls on Sunday, November 20.
