Commander of Baghdad Operations: Plan for Arbaeen Pilgrimage entered into force

INA-  Baghdad

The commander of Baghdad Operations, Lieutenant General Ahmed Salim, announced on Thursday the details of the security plan for the Arbaeen Pilgrimage, consisting of three stages, and while pointing to its entry into force, he confirmed the absence of road cuts so far.

Salim told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "the Baghdad Operations Command and the sectors attached to it have initiated the plan for the Arbaeen Pilgrimage to protect pilgrims heading to the Holy province of Karbala, whether on foot or by vehicles, as well as securing processions, mosques and responsibility stations, and on the routes of transportation of pilgrims from 6 a.m. yesterday, Wednesday, August 30, until the end of the Pilgrimage.

He added, "preparations to secure the Arbaeen Pilgrimage began early and are in three stages, where the first stage included preparations that were two-fold, the first part is my service by holding meetings with the owners of the processions with security checks, organizing their work and providing them with official approvals issued by our headquarters, as well as communicating with service departments such as electricity and health departments, the Ministry of transport and the Baghdad secretariat, to support them and implement the tasks assigned to them within an integrated service plan, as well as implementing several practices to open sectors before the start of the plan, to identify and address weaknesses and enhance the positive points".

He continued, " the second part of the preparations is the tactical part that we started on August 21 through the holding sectors, where the team leaders in the Karkh and Rusafa districts carried out proactive operations in the Baghdad belt and inside the city of Baghdad through searches and the execution of arrest warrants issued against the accused, especially with regard to Article (1/4) terrorism or various legal articles.

"The second stage of preparations is the implementation of the plan, where the axes of movement of pilgrims were held, the inspection filters were opened for people and vehicles , the axes were secured in depth and on the main roads, as well as the indirect fire areas were held by ambushes or through the conduct of motorized or foot patrols, in addition to coordination with the Army Aviation Command and the Air Force Command to conduct reconnaissance sorties to secure or achieve a safe atmosphere for the movement of visitors,"he said.

He pointed out that"the third and final stage is the end of the pilgrimage and the return of pilgrims to the city of Baghdad, and its implementation is expected to begin on September 6, a detailed plan has been developed to ensure a safe and flexible return of pilgrims , as well as securing the holy city of Kadhimiya, where it is expected after the end of the Arbaeen Pilgrimage , a large number of pilgrims , especially foreigners, will head to the holy city of Kadhimiya to perform the visit ceremony, so all measures have been taken to implement the return plan."

Salim stressed that "there is no cutting any road so far within the plan, but there are immediate measures that will be taken depending on the development of the road situation, which has a density of pilgrims , especially Walkers, so the cutting is done to protect them," pointing out that "there are flexible orders issued to the leadership of the Karkh and Rusafa operations, we can if we see the numbers of pilgrims decrease during certain hours, the road will be opened until we pull the largest number of vehicles , and reduce traffic congestion, but there is no cutting in any road yet".