Iran Press/Middle East: The rally in the capital Baghdad began at 1 p.m. local time (1000 GMT) on Sunday, with participants gathering at Tahrir Square.
Iraqis chanting anti-American slogans streamed to Baghdad's central square to mark the anniversary of the US killing of the top Iranian and Iraqi commanders.
Iraq’s anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hashd al-Sha’abi, had called on the people to participate in the million-strong march, dubbed Days of Martyrdom and Sovereignty.
Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement, on Friday invited "every honorable citizen of this country to participate in the demonstration of Days of Martyrdom and Sovereignty on Sunday in Tahrir Square.”
Similar rallies were to take place in the provinces of Basra, Dhi Qar, Maysan, Wasit, and Muthanna on Sunday.
General Soleimani, the Commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and PMU Deputy Head Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were assassinated along with their companions in a US terror drone strike authorized by President Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020.
Both commanders were highly popular because of their key role in eliminating the Daesh terrorist group in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria.
Two days after Washington’s assassination operation, Iraqi lawmakers approved a bill, demanding the withdrawal of all foreign military forces led by the United States from the country.
In the early hours of Sunday, a ceremony took place at Baghdad Airport to pay tribute to the martyred commanders.
Iraqis hold a candlelight vigil at the site of January 3, 2020, US drone strike on top Iranian and Iraqi anti-terror commanders, Lieutenant General Ghasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, at Baghdad Airport on January 2, 2021.
Thousands of mourners joined a mock funeral procession on the highway leading to the airport.
They also lit candles at the assassination scene, sealed off by red ropes, with a photo of Soleimani and al-Muhandis in the middle.
He called for the continuation of the path pursued by the resistance martyrs, emphasizing that the first step in avenging the assassination is to renew allegiance to the commanders.
“Hashd al-Sha’abi is an Ummah, and this Ummah is always faithful to the pure blood that was shed,” he added.
Abu Hussain al-Hamidawi, the secretary-general of the Kata'ib Hezbollah group, which is part of the PMU, released a statement.
He said that resistance groups would allow no one to confiscate their weapons, which are used for defending the country.
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