Three faction channels carried Popular Mobilization Forces statements on the Arbaeen security operation within roughly 28 minutes this morning: more than 54,000 personnel participating, aircraft and thermal cameras in use, and more than 70 battalions deployed along provincial borders. Al-Janoub TV (Harakat al-Jihad wal-Bina — official) posted the personnel figure first, Al-Ittijah TV (KH — official) the aircraft and thermal-camera line, and Watan TV (Badr Organization — affiliated) the battalion deployment. All three reproduce the PMF's own attribution without adding a faction line, which is why this sits at credible rather than higher: the three carriers are one information line, not three independent ones, and no outside reporting on the figures is in hand.
- Al-Janoub TVHarakat al-Jihad wal-Bina — official04 Aug, 13:12
“Popular Mobilization Forces: more than 54,000 personnel participated in securing the Arbaeen pilgrimage.”
الحشد الشعبي: مشاركة أكثر من 54 ألف منتسب في تأمين الزيارة الاربعينية
- Al-Ittijah TVKH — official04 Aug, 13:13
“Popular Mobilization Forces: we used aircraft and thermal cameras to secure the Arbaeen pilgrimage.”
الحشد الشعبي: استخدمنا طائرات وكاميرات حرارية في تأمين الزيارة الأربعينية
- Watan TVBadr Organization — affiliated04 Aug, 13:39
“Popular Mobilization Forces: more than 70 battalions deployed on provincial borders during the Arbaeen pilgrimage.”
الحشد الشعبي: أكثر من 70 فوجاً انتشرت على حدود المحافظات خلال الزيارة الأربعينية
The statements put on the record, in the PMF's own words, a battalion-level movement to provincial boundaries together with aerial and thermal-imaging assets — a capability and positioning declaration whose stated purpose is pilgrimage security.