Millions of mourners from inside and outside Iraq visited the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (as) in Karbala on the tenth day of Muharram to revive the memory of Ashoura.

Millions of mourners from inside and outside Iraq visited the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (as) in Karbala on the tenth day of Muharram to revive the memory of Ashoura, when Imam Hussein, his household, and friends were martyred by the army of Yazid in an inequitable war.

Around four million people visited the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and his brother Abulfadel Al-Abbas (as), chanting slogans of allegiance to Imam Hussein, and support to Islamic unity.

The commemorators also expressed rejection to any kind of oppression and to the offences against Muslims and their sanctities, specifically those against the Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh).

Ashoura ceremonies took place amid strict security measures, as the Iraqi security forces implemented checkpoints to ensure visitors' safety, and Helicopters flew over the city for surveillance.

Staff Lieutenant General Othman Al-Ghanimi, commander of Al-Furat Al-Awsat operations command which covers the Karbala area, said 30,000 security forces personnel were deployed at the northern, southern and eastern entrances of Karbala to protect the pilgrims.

Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Mohammad Al-Hasnawi, the command's spokesman meanwhile said that its forces were also preparing to protect pilgrims on their way back to their homes.

Other cities in Iraq, such as Baghdad, Najaf, Koufa, and others also witnessed massive Ashura processions.

In parallel, commemorators revived the memory of Ashoura in several Arab and Islamic countries.

In  Iran, masses took to the streets to hit their chests and mourn, chanting slogans like "Death to America" and "Death to Israel", in reference to the lesson learned from Karbala battle, which calls on people in all ages to confront tyranny and arrogant regimes.

Yemen also witnessed Ashura commemorations, as a massive procession was organized in the northern city of Saada, in which participants renewed their adherence to the path of Imam Hussein (as) against oppressors.

For its part, the Alliance of Yemeni Tribes condemned bomb attack that targeted a Ashoura procession in the capital Sanaa killing four people and wounding 13 others, and considered that this "is a serious attempt to stir sectarian tension".

A number of processions was organized in Sanaa, where people chanted against America and Israel, and called for supporting the resistances in Palestine and Lebanon, condemning the Israeli violence in Gaza.

Similarly, Afghanis from different sects and backgrounds mourned Imam Hussein in different Afghani cities amid intense security measures.

In Pakistan, a bomb attack targeted Ashoura commemorators killing five of them and wonder over 80 others in the northwestern city of Dera Ismail Khan.

A bomb had also exploded Saturday in Dera Ismail Khan in a mourning gathering killing eight people and wounding tens others, and another one in Rawalpindi killing 23 people and wounding 62 others. Both operations were adopted by Taliban.