Iraq to lift highest security alert level after religious visits

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq will lift the highest security alert level imposed nationwide to protect religious visits in the coming hours, a security official said. All security and military units will gradually return to their regular duty arrangements once the alert is officially lowered. Under the visitation security plan, the emergency measures that have been in force are set to end on Monday. Reinforced units deployed during the visit period will be sent back to their main bases, and checkpoints across the capital will resume normal operations. The official said the decision was approved by the security coordination center. Security sources said the visit process had proceeded without incident and that the additional measures had achieved their stated objective.