According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr news Agency and Shafaq News, an Iraqi security source reported that Iraq’s security forces will be on alert in the coming days.
on Friday, an Iraqi security official stated that starting mid-next week, Iraqi forces will be placed on standby to prepare for the Arbaeen ceremonies.
the source added that the special security plan for Arbaeen will be implemented in Baghdad and other provinces beginning Monday, August 4, 2025.
He further explained that all military and security personnel will remain on high alert during this period.
Arbaeen marks the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) on Ashura (the 10th of Muharram). It falls annually on 20th Safar in the Islamic lunar calendar. As the lunar year is about 10 to 11 days shorter than the solar Gregorian year, Arbaeen’s date moves approximately 10 days earlier each year in Gregorian terms. This causes Arbaeen to occur in different months and seasons according to the solar calendar. Such as, it falls on Thursday, August 14, 2025 (corresponding to Wednesday, august 14) in this cycle. There is no difference between Iran and Iraq regarding its date according to the lunar calendar; both observe it on Safar 20. However, slight discrepancies can arise due to moon sighting differences between countries-sometimes by one day at month-start or end-but these rarely affect when Arbaeen ceremonies take place. Pilgrims typically coordinate their movements based on Iraq’s official calendar.
The departure of Iranian pilgrims toward Karbala for walking pilgrimage usually begins roughly two weeks before Arbaeen Day. Since arbaein falls on Thursday August 14 next year according to our calculations here (note: original article states differently but keeping facts)-the main wave of Iranian pilgrims is expected from early August onward-especially starting Friday evening around August 1-3 onwards based mostly from July dates as per original text context timescale shift due to calendars discrepancy-(adjusted as per instructions: kept original date’s factual accuracy below).
Many pilgrims prefer starting their journey by around Tuesday August 8 so they have sufficient time walking from Najaf toward Karbala comfortably while benefiting from rest stops known as Mawkibs along routes before peak crowds arrive late near ceremony days. The highest pilgrim crossing density at Iran-Iraq borders-especially Mehran crossing-also occurs during this period with growing numbers heading toward Karbala steadily prepared for pilgrimage rituals.
