Millions in Iraq mourn Khamenei as US launches fresh strikes on Iran
When the death of a leader becomes a rallying point for millions, and external threats only harden resolve, mourning transforms into an act of political will. On the sacred soil of Najaf and Karbala, the funeral rites for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei went beyond religious ceremony — they became a display of solidarity with Iran and a furious response to ongoing US strikes. Crowds waving flags and chanting anti American slogans showed that even in times of grief, the Middle East does not lay down its arms.
On Wednesday, millions of mourners gathered in the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala for funeral processions marking the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Preliminary figures showed that more than 2.3 million people took part in the first hour of the Najaf procession, which began early on Wednesday, according to the official Iraqi News Agency (INA).
To facilitate the ceremonies, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi declared Wednesday a public holiday for all state institutions. The coffin of the late Iranian leader was later due to be transported to neighbouring Karbala, where Abdul Mahdi al Karbalai, a representative of Iraq's highest religious authority, would lead prayers at the Imam Hussein Shrine.
In Karbala, the Iraqi government conducted the final rites of the mourning ceremony. Around one million people from Iraq, Iran and neighbouring countries travelled to Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday to join the commemorations. Meanwhile, early on Wednesday, US forces launched a new round of strikes on Iran. At the mourning sites, large crowds waved Iraqi and Iranian flags and chanted anti American and anti Israeli slogans, demanding the withdrawal of US led foreign troops from Iraq and an end to aggression against Iran. "The people gathered here today sent a clear signal to the arrogant United States.
America has repeatedly shown arrogance and disrespect. Time and again during negotiations, they have deceived us and carried out attacks. This is not the first time," said an Iraqi citizen. "On my way here, I read the news that Trump said the US intends to continue striking Iran. But Iran remains firmly ready to withstand any storm. As a country that has been subjected to aggression, Iran will not break. As the world has seen, Iran has always stood unshaken. These strikes will not weaken Iran's will," said another Iraqi citizen.
Khamenei's funerals were held from Friday to Tuesday in the Iranian capital Tehran and the central city of Qom. On Thursday, he is to be buried in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, which the Iranian government has declared a day of national mourning. Khamenei was killed in a US Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February.
The mourning ceremonies in Iraq continued the multi day farewells that began in Iran. Najaf and Karbala are the two holiest cities for Shia Muslims, drawing millions of pilgrims each year. Their selection for the mourning rites underscores the religious and political unity of Iraqi and Iranian Shias. The US strikes, launched on the morning of the ceremonies, were seen as a provocation but only deepened the mourners' resolve.
As CCTV+ reports. The situation in the region remains extremely tense, and the mourning rituals, despite the hostilities, continue, demonstrating the resilience of religious and national sentiments in the face of external pressure.
