Hundreds gather in Najaf for Iran leader Khamenei funeral procession.

Thousands of mourners have converged on the holy city of Najaf in Iraq as funeral processions began for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's slain Supreme Leader. The event marks a significant moment following air strikes by the United States and Israel on February 28, which killed Khamenei along with several of his relatives.

Iraqi authorities declared Wednesday a public holiday to facilitate these ceremonies, with processions commencing at 6am local time (03:00 GMT). The route took Khamenei's coffin from the airport through the streets of Najaf to the shrine of Imam Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law and the first Shia imam. This location is recognized as the third holiest site in Shia Islam after Mecca and Medina.

"It seems to be ranking among those [events] in its significance," said Jack Hewson of Al Jazeera, who reported from the scene. While the exact number of attendees remains unconfirmed, observers estimate that hundreds of thousands have gathered for this religious observance.

The funeral marks the final leg of a six-day ceremony schedule initiated by Iran on Saturday. The extensive planning was intended to project national strength and unity as Tehran faces ongoing conflict with its regional adversaries. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Najaf Tuesday night alongside Khamenei's eldest son, Mostafa Hosseini Khamenei, who received the remains at the international airport before they were handed over to Iraqi officials.

Following his final burial in Khamenei's hometown of Mashhad on Thursday, a portion of the procession is expected to continue north to Karbala, roughly 60km away, where ceremonies will conclude at the shrines of Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas.

Notably absent from the public processions was Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed leadership duties immediately following his father's assassination. Officials have stated that he remains hospitalized due to injuries sustained in the air strikes, though the severity of his condition has not been fully disclosed. Esmail Qaani, head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, described the event as a testament to the "spiritual bond" between the two nations.

"The extensive planning for this historical event by the Iraqi government and people shows the depth of the spiritual bond between the two great nations of Iraq and Iran to the whole world," Qaani said.

For many attendees, the journey represented more than just a religious duty. Mohammed al-Bayati, who traveled for hours to reach Najaf, described the gathering as "an opportunity not to be missed to participate in the funeral of the person who challenged the power of America and Israel.