Thousands of mourners marched through Iraq’s holy city of Najaf on Wednesday, carrying portraits of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as his coffin moved through the streets following his death in Iran. The six-day procession, which drew huge crowds in Iran, crossed into Iraq and continued as banners of Iran-linked Iraqi militias joined the route.
Along the way, attendees chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Iraqi and Iranian flags were displayed above the crowd. Najaf is especially significant for Shi’ite Muslims as the burial place of Imam Ali.
Khamenei’s coffin arrived Tuesday evening at Najaf’s international airport, where Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, senior officials, and religious figures attended an official reception. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also arrived.
The procession is expected to continue to the shrine city of Karbala before the coffin is returned to Iran for burial.
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