Thousands march as Khamenei's funeral procession crosses into Iraq

NAJAF: 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. Coffin of Khamenei arrives in Iraq’s Najaf 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 Shia 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.