A day after a series of bombs killed and wounded dozens of Shi'ite pilgrims, VOA reporter Sharon Behn accompanies members of the Iraqi military to the religious city of Karbala, as they reassure people that security operations are working properly for the holiday of Ashura.
Security in Iraq on the Ashura Holiday
December 06: An Iraqi military helicopter door gunner on a flight from Baghdad to the Shi'ite holy city of Karbala. (Sharon Behn/VOA)
Tracer bullets lay at the ready on the inside of an Iraqi military helicopter standing by after landing in the Iraqi holy city of Karbala. Officers of the Iraqi military flew down to the Iraqi holy city on the Ashura holiday to ensure that security was in
Iraqi military helicopter door gunner preparing for lift off from Karbala back to the capital, Baghdad. (Sharon Behn/VOA)
Iraqi military helicopters, Russian made MI-17s, take off from the International Zone in Baghdad at sunset, after dropping off officers who had traveled down to Karbala on the Iraqi Shi'ite holy day of Ashura. (Sharon Behn/VOA)
Iraqi soldiers take a break after landing in Karbala. (Sharon Behn/VOA)
Iraqi military officers share a communal plate of specially-made meat and rice to celebrate the Iraqi Shi'ite holy day of Ashura. (Sharon Behn/VOA)
Aerial shots of the streets of Baghdad from an M-17 Iraqi military helicopter. (Sharon Behn/VOA)