Thousands of mourners participated in a funeral procession for slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iraq's holy city of Najaf on Wednesday, as his extensive funeral journey continued across the border following significant public gatherings in Iran.
Participants, carrying large portraits of Khamenei, lined the route and chanted slogans including "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" as the coffin was transported through the city streets. The procession was marked by the presence of both Iraqi and Iranian flags, as well as banners belonging to influential Iran-backed Iraqi militias whose members joined the event.
Najaf holds profound spiritual importance for Shi'ite Muslims globally, being the burial site of Imam Ali, a central figure in Shi'ite Islam. Khamenei's coffin arrived at Najaf International Airport on Tuesday evening, where it was received with an official ceremony attended by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, senior government officials, and religious leaders.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were also present for the procession. The funeral journey is scheduled to proceed to the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala before Khamenei's remains are returned to Iran for his final burial.
