Iraq says Ashura pilgrimage return plan moved smoothly with thousands of buses deployed

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Security Media Cell chief, Major General Saad Maan, said on Thursday that the return phase of this year's Ashura pilgrimage proceeded with high fluidity in transport operations. Speaking to the Iraqi state news agency, Maan said the plan set up a high-level security committee, a service committee and a return transport committee headed by the head of the Hajj and Umrah Authority, Sheikh Sami al-Masoudi. Maan said Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zidi closely followed all details of the pilgrimage and provided direct support to meet needs. Under the plan, 2,400 buses operated around the clock on northern, eastern and southern routes to transport visitors leaving Karbala free of charge. An additional 1,200 vehicles from various ministries also joined the operation, he added. According to Maan, the flow continued without interruption despite heavy visitor numbers and private vehicle traffic. He said the Ashura pilgrimage recorded clear improvements across various indicators compared with previous years and that the oversight committee would continue working to facilitate the departure of the remaining visitors from the city.