About 18 million devotees from around the around the world have gathered in the holy city of Karbala to commemorate the Arba'een or the traditional 40th day after the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammad's (SAWA) younger grandson and 3rd Infallible Successor, Imam Husain (AS).

Tight security measures were put in place with a large number of security forces deployed in Iraq's holy sites in preparation for the occasion.

Scores of people have been martyred in recent weeks across Iraq in attacks targeting pilgrims as they embark on the traditional walk to Karbala for the commemoration event.

On Wednesday, several pilgrims were martyred and injured in a car bomb explosion that hit Iraq’s central city of Babil.

On December 31, at least 23 people, including children, attained martyrdom and 80 others injured in a fresh wave of terrorist attacks in several cities and towns in Iraq.

On December 24, at least 48 people attained martyrdom and over 110 others were wounded in similar terrorist attacks targeting both security guards and civilians across the country.

The Iraqi government has stepped up efforts to increase security across the country over the past few months, in view of the seditious efforts of Saudi Arabia and certain reactionary Arab regimes to create unrest and bloodshed in Iraq.