BAGHDAD, Iraq: Over 30,000 members of the Iraqi security forces will be deployed in the holy city of Karbala for Arba’in al-Husseini on Safar 20, February 28, which is expected to draw millions of mourners.

Addressing a news conference last week, Karbala police chief General Raed Shakir Jawdat told: "We have put in place a plan after studying the negative and positive aspects of the last pilgrimage."

"We have enlarged the size of the cordons around the city and will deploy more than 30,000 security force members, including three rapid response brigades," he said.

"We will utilize 39 explosive detecting devices and we have supplied our forces with modern arms in place of their old ones; we have more vehicles and some security leaders were replaced by more competent ones," the general added.

"Our forces are ready to face any challenge from any armed or extremist group."

Millions of Husseini mourners are expected to descend on Karbala, south of Baghdad, for the Arba’in ceremonies marking 40 days after Ashura.

Making a visit to Al-Imam Al-Hussein (AS) on Arba’in is one of the five emblems of a believer (momin) according to a saying of a Ma’sum (AS).