Leader on Arba’een rituals
The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution has praised ceremonies as part of the annual Arba’een commemoration, including the millions-strong annual march toward the Iraqi holy city of Karbala. Speaking during a commemoration service attended by students, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said the Araba’een march is a miraculous event which signifies God Almighty’s will to keep the flag of Islam flying. This move, said the Leader, is not driven by any man-made policies or measures. Rather, he added, it is the divine power which, through this large-scale manifestation, opens a bright road ahead of us. Ayatollah Khamenei said ill-wishers and those distorting realities are making relentless efforts to launch campaigns against key Islamic events such as the Arba’een march. The Leader then urged all to be patient and remain steadfast in treading the path of righteousness.
Arba’een pilgrimage
Millions of Muslims convene in the Iraqi city of Karbala to mark the end of the 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein, martyred in the 7th century battle of Karbala. The number of pilgrims attending the great religious gathering of Arba’een in Iraq has surpassed expectations.
Hezbollah Israel warning
The secretary general of Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement says the resistance group will not allow the Israeli regime to extract oil and natural gas from an energy field off the Lebanese coast until the maritime dispute is resolved. In a speech on the annual Arba’een commemoration, Nasrallah underlined that Hezbollah is neither issuing any threats nor does it want any conflicts. But he said he wants Lebanon’s maritime rights to be secured. Nasrallah urged Palestinians, regional countries and all resistance groups and organizations to join hands against the Israeli regime and reclaim their rights, land and resources. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Hezbollah chief touched upon the 1982 massacre of Palestinian refugees in Sabra and Shatila camps in Beirut. He called it Israel’s most heinous crimes, in which, Lebanese militias armed by the regime stormed into the camps and brutally killed thousands of civilians. Nasrallah said Israel has not been held accountable decades after committing the horrible crime.