Tens of thousands of mourners lined the streets of Najaf, one of Iraq’s holiest cities, on Wednesday to witness the funeral procession of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose coffin has crossed the border from Iran as part of a six-day ceremony.
Crowds carrying large images of the deceased leader gathered along the procession route, chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” as Khamenei’s coffin was transported through the city streets atop a large truck.
Both Iraqi and Iranian flags were visible throughout the crowd, along with banners representing powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia groups, whose members joined the procession in large numbers.
Najaf carries deep religious importance for Shi’ite Muslims around the world, as it is the burial site of Imam Ali, who was both the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad.
The coffin had arrived the previous evening at Najaf’s international airport, where Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, along with senior government officials and religious figures, took part in a formal reception ceremony.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also traveled to Iraq to participate in the procession. The coffin is expected to continue on to the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala before ultimately being returned to Iran, where Khamenei will be laid to rest.
