Iraq mourns fighters killed in Syria

Hundreds of people in Maysan Governorate, southeastern Iraq, bordering Iran, mourned the deaths of seven killed in the ongoing clashes in Syria. The Hezbollah Movement in Iraq confirmed that the men killed belonged to their group, adding that they will send more fighters to the region to "defend Shiite shrines around the world." An the official from the group, Hashem Al Najib, told Arabstoday that the seven fighters were "martyred whilst defending Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque" - a shrine located in Sayyidah Zaynab, Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria. He declared that military defence will be adopted to "protect sacred shrines around the world against terrorist Salafist movements, who want to harm and destroy the Prophet's family and followers". He accused Arab countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, of conspiring to kill Shiites and recruiting a free army to "eliminate the Prophet's followers." Since the outbreak of fighting in Syria, many of Iraq's youth have travelled to Syria to attempt to protect these sacred shrines.