Despite the security reinforcements.. Iranian pilgrims infiltrate into Iraq

Shafaq News / Security sources revealed that Iranian pilgrims crossed the border to Iraq for "Arbaeen" visit, despite Iraqi security reinforcements at the border.

The sources told Shafaq News Agency that smuggling of visitors is taking place in Basra governorate.

Earlier on Friday, an official security source in Basra governorate said on Friday that security reinforcements had been dispatched to Shalamcheh border crossing, in anticipation of any incursion by the Iranian pilgrims.

 The source told Shafaq News agency that security reinforcement forces have been sent to Shalamcheh border crossing in anticipation of any breach of the Iraqi-Iranian borders in the governorate of Basra after a group of Iranian citizens attempted to storm the port from the Iranian side.

The source indicated that reinforcements were sent in deference to the wishes of the citizens of Basra who demanded the security authorities to protect the Iraqi borders from illegal crossing, which is considered a violation of the sovereignty of Iraq.

 On Friday, the Border Crossing Authority denied reports that Iranian pilgrims had entered Iraq to hold the ceremonies of the 40th anniversary of Imam Hussein.

 For his part, the Iranian governor of Khuzestan announced in a statement today that a group of 250 Arab citizens from the cities of Muhammarah and Abadan headed to Shalamcheh border crossings to enter Iraq with the intention of participating in the anniversary.

 He explained that verbal altercations occurred between them and the security forces who convinced them that the ban was from Iraq due to COVID-19 pandemic. The pilgrims afterwards returned from where they came peacefully.

Since the beginning of the month of Muharram, the Iraqi authorities announced that they would not receive foreign pilgrims, not on Ashura visit, or the Arbaeen visit, due to the outbreak of Covid-19.