Iranian cargo plane carries food, water to Arabeen pilgrims in Iraq

Tehran, IRNA – First Iranian cargo flight on Saturday departed for Iraq, carrying food and water to Iranian pilgrims of Arbaeen in that country. The cargo plane left the Iranian capital Tehran for the Iraqi city of Najaf. Similar flights are planned from the cities of Isfahan and Mashhad as well. Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said on Saturday that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army, as well as the country’s Red Crescent Society, are helping in delivering services too. Arbaeen marks the 40th day since the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hossein (AS), the third Shia Imam and the grandson of Islam’s Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Arbaeen is considered a great occasion on the Islamic lunar calendar, with millions of Muslims from across the world converging each year on the Iraqi city of Karbala where Imam Hossein’s holy shrine is located to mark the event. Iranians too begin their pilgrimage to the Iraqi city several days before Arbaeen which falls on September 17 this year. Iran is using flights to dispatch food and water to Iraq in order to accelerate the offering of services and help Iraq in this regard due to hot weather there and a significant increase in the number of pilgrims this year. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish