Najaf: Pilgrims continue to flock to the shrine of Imam Ali, and all roads are open. The commander of the border forces and head of the security committee for the Najaf Governorate, Lieutenant General Muhammad Abdul Wahab Sakr, confirmed on Wednesday that all roads leading to the center of Najaf are open to pilgrims, with the exception of the area surrounding the Imam Ali shrine.
According to Iraqi News Agency, Lieutenant General Sakr stated that the Najaf Police Command, supported by the Ministry of Interior’s resources and units, has implemented a comprehensive security plan to ensure the safe movement of pilgrims. He explained that various branches of the Ministry are deployed along the pilgrimage routes, including traffic police, civil defense, border guards, and other security formations.
He added that pilgrims are arriving on foot towards Najaf from the holy provinces of Karbala, Babylon, and Diwaniyah. He noted that all roads leading to the province are open to pilgrims, with special organizational measures in place around the holy shrine.
Lieutenant General Sakr noted that the peak of the pilgrimage began Tuesday evening and will continue until Wednesday evening, emphasizing that no negative cases have been recorded so far. He anticipates that the province will witness a million-strong pilgrimage.
He explained that the security plan is accompanied by service and health efforts, including the deployment of ambulances and medical teams, and the provision of ice plants. These efforts are supported by various institutions working to secure the pilgrimage and ensure the safety of the pilgrims.
He added that the efforts of the various departments within the Ministry of Interior, including the Border Guard Command, the Najaf Police Command, and other formations, have contributed to securing the routes used by the pilgrims.
Lieutenant General Sakr pointed out that this effort is an extension of the mobilization that the province witnessed during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, calling for adherence to security and organizational instructions.