Basra: Thousands of Basra residents began commemorating the Arba'een pilgrimage of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) last night and into the early hours of Tuesday morning. They proceeded on foot to the Imam Ali Mosque (peace be upon him) in the Zubair district, west of the city, amidst a heavy security presence to ensure the safety of pilgrims arriving from the city center and surrounding districts.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, mourning and service processions lined the route from Saad Square to the mosque, providing food, drinks, and other services to those participating in the commemoration.

Security forces reinforced their presence along the route to the mosque as part of a special security plan. Dr. Aqeel al-Fariji, head of the security committee in the Basra Provincial Council, stated that security forces intensified their deployment in coordination with supporting agencies to protect the mourners until the conclusion of the pilgrimage at noon today.

Al-Fariji added that the security plan included organizing the pedestrian routes and facilitating the movement of service vehicles and ambulances to ensure the smooth flow of the pilgrimage and the provision of necessary services.

For its part, the Basra Health Department deployed ambulances and medical teams along the road leading to the Imam Ali (peace be upon him) Mosque, where medical personnel provided treatment, first aid, and awareness services to citizens, in addition to distributing health guidelines that contribute to promoting health awareness.

Every year on the 20th of Safar, the people of Basra commemorate the Arba'een of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) by heading to the Mosque of the Footprint in the Zubair district, which is about 30 kilometers from the center of Basra city, in an annual tradition that embodies the deep connection to this religious occasion.