A police commander said his forces would utilize a series of pilotless aircraft to patrol the borders and ensure the security of pilgrims visiting neighboring Iraq for Arbaeen.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Brigadier General Hossein Ashtari added that the 12 drones recently received by the police from the Defense Ministry could be employed for controlling the border areas, detecting illegal entries, combating outlaws and smugglers, and managing road traffic, Tasnim News Agency reported.
Ashtari noted that the drones may be used during the Arbaeen season when a large number of Iranian pilgrims travel to Iraq to participate in rituals commemorating the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (PBUH).
On Monday, the police took delivery of new drones, helicopters and Special Forces equipment from the Defense Ministry.
Arbaeen, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, marking the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Each year, a massive congregation of Shia Muslims converges on Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (PBUH)is located, to perform mourning rites.
