Thousands march as Khamenei's funeral procession crosses into Iraq

Mourners marched through Iraq's holy city of Najaf on Wednesday, ‌following the coffin of slain Iranian leader Ayatollah ​Ali ⁠Khamenei as his six-day funeral procession, ‌which drew huge ‌crowds in his home country, pressed on across the border.

People carrying large portraits ‌of the late leader gathered along the route and ⁠chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" as Khamenei's coffin was driven on a large truck through the streets.

Iraqi and Iranian flags fluttered above the crowd, alongside the banners of ​powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militias whose supporters joined ‌the procession.

Najaf holds special significance for Shi'ite Muslims worldwide as the burial place of ⁠Imam Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad. Khamenei's coffin arrived on Tuesday evening at ​Najaf's international ‌airport, where Iraqi Prime Minister Ali ‌al-Zaidi, senior officials and religious figures attended an official reception.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Islamic Revolutionary Guard ‌Corps commanders ‌also arrived to ⁠take part in the procession, which is ‌expected to continue to the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala before the ⁠coffin is returned to Iran ​for burial.

Reuters