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ISF, MND-B soldiers provide secure environment for march to Karbala

By Spc. Kevin Holden, 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armd. Div., MND-BFebruary 19, 2009

LUTIFIYAH, Iraq -Shia Muslims march through Lutifiyah, south of Baghdad, Feb. 12 during Arba'een, an Islamic religious holiday. This event begins in Baghdad and ends in the holy city of Karbala. Islamic followers perform this ritual as a sign of th...
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – LUTIFIYAH, Iraq -Shia Muslims march through Lutifiyah, south of Baghdad, Feb. 12 during Arba'een, an Islamic religious holiday. This event begins in Baghdad and ends in the holy city of Karbala. Islamic followers perform this ritual as a sign of th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
LUTIFIYAH, Iraq -1st Lt. Jason Mittnight, of Tulsa, Okla., platoon leader with 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment visits an Iraqi Army checkpoint during the Islamic religious holiday Arba'een on Feb. 12. The MND-B Soldiers and their Ira...
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – LUTIFIYAH, Iraq -1st Lt. Jason Mittnight, of Tulsa, Okla., platoon leader with 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment visits an Iraqi Army checkpoint during the Islamic religious holiday Arba'een on Feb. 12. The MND-B Soldiers and their Ira... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
LUTIFIYAH, Iraq -A soldier of the 17th IA Division provides security during the Arba'een march in Lutifiyah on Feb. 12. MND-B Soldiers and their Iraqi Security Force partners patrolled the road ways and visited IA checkpoints in Lutifiyah during the...
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – LUTIFIYAH, Iraq -A soldier of the 17th IA Division provides security during the Arba'een march in Lutifiyah on Feb. 12. MND-B Soldiers and their Iraqi Security Force partners patrolled the road ways and visited IA checkpoints in Lutifiyah during the... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
LUTIFIYAH, Iraq -Shia Muslims celebrate Arba'een in Lutifiyah Feb. 12. The Iraqis marched on foot from Baghdad to the holy city of Karbala singing and waving religious flags. MND-B Soldiers and their Iraqi Security Force partners patrolled the road ...
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – LUTIFIYAH, Iraq -Shia Muslims celebrate Arba'een in Lutifiyah Feb. 12. The Iraqis marched on foot from Baghdad to the holy city of Karbala singing and waving religious flags. MND-B Soldiers and their Iraqi Security Force partners patrolled the road ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

BAGHDAD - In support of the Security Agreement implementation, Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers from 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment and their Iraqi Security partners conducted a combined operation in Lutifiyah, south of Baghdad, to provide a secure environment for Iraqis marching in the Islamic religious holiday of Arba'een Feb. 11 to Feb. 15.

The 1st Battalion, 25th Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division, Iraqi police, and National police provided the main security force while MND-B Soldiers provided assistance to ensure sectarian extremists did not attack the marchers on their way south to Karbala.

"The IA and MND-B Soldiers have worked together on security patrols and combined military operations every day since the Security Agreement on Jan. 1," said 1st Lt. Jason Mittnight, a native of Tulsa Okla. "The ISF are well trained and capable of providing security for political and religious events. MND-B Soldiers will assist with security when requested by the (Government of Iraq)."

Arba'een is a time of mourning for Shia Muslims and participating in the pilgrimage reflects their Muslim faith in the Imam Husayn, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad. Husayn died in 680 A.D. in the Battle of Karbala. This Shia religious event has been banned in the recent past. Observing Arba'een in Iraq begins on foot in Baghdad and ends in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.

The pilgrimage from Baghdad to Karbala takes Muslim travelers through multiple cities. Lutifiyah was peaceful as crowds of people walked on the main southbound highway waving flags, playing music, and celebrating.

The MND-B Soldiers and their Iraqi Security Force partners patrolled the road ways and visited IA checkpoints in Lutifiyah during the holiday at the request of the Government of Iraq. The two forces set the conditions to allowed Iraqis the freedom to take part in the Ashura and Arbaeen pilgrimages and observances.

There were no reports of violence in their patrol areas.

"Shia Muslims feel safe, and there is freedom of religion to celebrate Ashura Arba'een," said Iraqi Army 2nd Lt. Yasser H. Mohameed. "I am proud to serve the people and the new Government of Iraq."

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