Hundreds of Thousands Gather in Najaf and Karbala to Mourn Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis assembled in Najaf and Karbala. The cities host two of Shiite Islam’s most sacred shrines. Participants gathered to mourn Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He is a senior Iranian cleric whose policies have extended Iran’s influence in Iraq. The large turnout signals solidarity with Iran. The gathering highlighted Iran’s cultural reach in the region. The commemorations took place at the holy sites, drawing regional attention. The event reflects ongoing ties between Iraqi Shiite communities and Iran.