Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis escort Khamenei's coffin in holy city of Najaf

Baghdad, July 8 - Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis lined the streets of the holy city of Najaf on Wednesday morning to escort the coffin of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was reportedly killed on the first day of the war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. His remains arrived in Najaf after four days of massive funeral events held across Iran.

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Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis accompany and escort this Wednesday morning the coffin of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The procession began early in the morning, with an immense, somber crowd accompanying the truck carrying the body of Khamenei, who was also a highly influential religious leader. Najaf is considered a vital center for Shiite religious doctrine. The funeral cortege is expected to proceed to the holy city of Karbala, marking the end of Khamenei's journey through Iraqi territory later this afternoon.

According to a statement from the Iraqi Popular Crowd organization, a pro-Iranian political group involved in organizing the funeral, the ceremony commenced around 6:00 AM local time and is heading towards Al Sadrain Square in Najaf. The Popular Crowd estimated that over two million people were participating in the procession.

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The procession began early in the morning and proceeds among a very large crowd, rigorously in mourning and accompanying the passage of the truck carrying the remains of the one who was also a very important religious leader in a city considered one of the nerve centers of Shiite religious doctrine.

Ayatollah Khamenei's body arrived in Najaf on Tuesday night. The city is home to the mausoleum of Imam Ali, the first Imam according to Shiite doctrine and the third holiest site for followers of this branch of Islam. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Najaf and met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, as reported by the official Iraqi News Agency (INA). Khamenei is scheduled to be buried on Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad.

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The Popular Crowd estimated that more than two million people accompany the coffin.