Karbala and Najaf, Iraq are the two holiest cities in Shiite Islam.
17.5 million Shia Muslims made the holy Arbaeen pilgrimage to Karbala in 2014.
More than three million Shiites marked the annual pilgrimage to Karbala amid tight security and attacks on the way to the holy city that killed dozens of people in 2006. (AFP/Mohammed Sawaf)
ISIS controls Ramadi, a city just 70 miles from Baghdad – Institute for the Study of War
Current Map of Iraq – via the Institute for the Study of War
In June 2014 ISIS threatened to attack the Shia holy cities of Karbala and Najaf.
Iranian backed Shia militias in Iraq are likely to fall back to protect sites secured during the height of the sectarian conflict.
There are already reports they are doing just that.
Experts see the Shia militias ceding traditional Sunni areas including Ramadi and Mosul to ISIS putting Baghdad in jeopardy.
Via Michael Pregent:
IRGC-backed Shia Militias are moving to protect Samarra and Karbala ahead of clearing Ramadi and defending Baghdad pic.twitter.com/8aA0wbRsY4
— Michael P Pregent (@MPPregent) May 19, 2015
The Shiites are going to protect their holy cities south of Baghdad first.
Shia militias will allocate forces to protect Karbala ahead of retaking Ramadi – Shia militias are mobilizing to defend strategic areas
— Michael P Pregent (@MPPregent) May 19, 2015