Terrorist plot against Arbaeen pilgrims foiled in Iraq

Kata'ib Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades), one of the Iraqi Islamic resistance forces, issued a statement on Friday saying its intelligence forces had obtained information about Daesh terrorists plotting to carry out an attack on the Arbaeen pilgrims in an area between two Iraqi provinces of Babil and Anbar.

The Kata'ib Hezbollah forces promptly stepped in and destroyed three of the terrorist hideouts, seizing the equipment used for building hand-made bombs, the statement said.

Arbaeen is a mourning ritual observed by Shia Muslims marking the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) (the grandson of Prophet Mohammad and the third Shia Imam). Millions of Shia Muslims from across the world walk tens of kilometers to get the holy shrine of Imam Hussain (AS) in Karbala on Arbaeen Day.

The statement added that in accordance with the nationwide security plan to guarantee the security of Arbaeen rituals, Kata'ib Hezbollah forces have been deployed in 43 desert points where terrorist attacks are likely to be carried out against the pilgrims.

This is the second time that Iraqi security forces announce terrorist plots against Arbaeen pilgrims have been discovered.

It was announced last Thursday that a terrorist attack on the pilgrims walking towards Karbala had been defused in northern parts of Wasit province.

Translated by: Ahmad Mohammadi
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