Brigadier General Ismail Kani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said that the funeral of martyred leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in Iraq will strengthen the mutual solidarity of the people of Iran and Iraq and strengthen the united position of the two nations against the US conspiracy.
In a message published on Tuesday, Kani said that this funeral to be held in Najaf and Karbala will not only deepen the unity of the people of the two countries, but will also strengthen the demand for justice for the martyred leaders of the resistance movement.
He said that the initiative of the Iraqi government to organize this historic event and the extensive preparation of the people of the country is a reflection of the deep spiritual and brotherly relationship between Iran and Iraq. Kani also noted that the support of Ayatollah Khamenei and the role of Iraq’s religious leadership have contributed significantly to the fight against IS in the country.
Referring to the former Quds Force chief of the IRGC, General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US attack near Baghdad airport in 2020, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of Iraq’s popular volunteer force, Kani said that they are a common symbol of sacrifice for both countries. He claimed that Khamenei’s funeral would strengthen the anti-US resistance just like the funerals of Soleimani and al-Muhandis.
Meanwhile, the governor of Karbala and the head of the province’s high security committee, Nasif Jassim Al-Khattabi, said that security and logistical preparations have been completed for the funeral. He told Iraqi media that the event is very important for the country’s government and people. For this purpose, several coordination meetings have been held with the Federal Military, Prime Minister’s Office and various related service organizations.
According to him, bereaved people and various delegations will start coming to Karbala from Wednesday. All related plans have been finalized to ensure safety, transport and public services.
The governor said that the funeral will be held in three phases. In the first phase, the state ceremony will be held on Tuesday evening, in the second phase, the funeral procession will be held in Najaf on Wednesday and in the last phase, the final program will be held in Karbala on the afternoon of the same day. A large number of people from different parts of Iraq are expected to participate in the event. On this occasion, a public holiday has also been declared in Karbala province on Wednesday.
The spokesperson of the special media committee, Lieutenant General Saad Mann, said that the procession route in Najaf will be about 6 kilometers from Al-Sadrain overpass to Imam Ali’s shrine and about 5.8 kilometers in Karbala. 351 service centers in Najaf, more than 400 in Karbala and 150 ambulances were deployed along the way of the procession for the participants.
Source: Press TV
