The al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine honors a group of the martyrs of the Air hawks.

Coinciding with the joys of the Iraqis for the liberation of Mosul al-Hadba from the clutches of the terrorist ISIL gangs, and in appreciation of the heroic and courageous role played by the air cavalry fighters of the Iraqi army, the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine set up an honor ceremony for a group of their families in response to the directives of the supreme religious authority to give the suitable care to the families of the martyrs, and in continuation of its program of support for this segment, which included most of the security forces and the popular mobilization.

The honoring ceremony was held in the hall of Imam al-Hassan at the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine on Friday afternoon the 19th of Shawwal 1438 AH corresponding to the 14th of July 2017, and was attended by the Secretary-General of the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine and a group of its officials and administrators as well as the martyrs' families. IT started by the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran and reading Surat al-Fatiha in memory of the martyrs of Iraq in general and of the martyrs of the popular mobilization, security forces and the heroes of the Air Force, followed by the national anthem and the anthem of the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine "melody of pride".

Followed by the word of the General Secretariat of the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine delivered by Sheikh Salah al-Karbala`i, head of the religious affairs department, in which he said: "Congratulations to the heroic fighters who, thanks to them, to their sacrifices, to their families who support them and to the processions of logistic support, this great victory was achieved."

Adding: "Were it not for the efforts of the brothers in the Air Force and Army Aviation, who had the greatest role, all of these victories would not be achieved as since the moment of the launch of the Fatwa, they were determined to achieve victory. They are our center of admiration and pride, as many distress calls of all branches of army and popular mobilization were relieved by the Iraqi Air Army."

Then Colonel General Hamed al-Maliki, Commander of the Air Army, has delivered his word, in which he stated: "It is a great and historic day, in which we celebrate a victory of God for the believers and the Mujahideen over the gangs of criminality and destruction, by the liberation of the city of Mosul that has unified the Iraqis from all denominations by the blood of the Iraqis, the sacrifices of the heroes and the Fatwa of the wise religious authority."

Al-Maliki continued: "The number of flights since the inception of the advisory opinion in all battles is of 53 thousand flights, including 7144 flight missions to support the liberation of Mosul for all the fighting units of security forces and popular mobilization. And this great victory is achieved by the blood of the martyrs who have given their souls in redemption of the homeland and to defend its pure soil."

He concluded: "All thanks to the wise religious authority for its continuous support to the Air Force in the battlefields and the front lines by its field visits to the military units, and all thanks to the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine for this gesture and this honor."

A documentary about the security forces and the air force was then displayed followed by the opening of picture exhibition of the dear martyrs. The honoring ceremony was concluded by honoring the families who expressed their thanks and gratitude to the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine for this noble initiative.