Major General Qays Khalaf Rahima, a senior Iraqi commander, said Iraqi federal police, security forces and poplar forces will contribute to the efforts for protecting the safety and security of Arbaeen pilgrims.
The office of governor of Karbala province has predicted that more than 15 million people will visit the province to take part in mourning rituals on Arbaeen this year.
Arbaeen, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites. Many of them also visit Imam Ali’s (AS) holy shrine in Najaf.
This year, Arbaeen falls on Sunday, November 20.