ʃˈɪaɪts fɹʌm ɪɹˈæk, ɪn bˈæbɪl ɡˈʌvɚnɚɹˌeɪt ænd dɪjˈɑːlə ɡˈʌvɚnɚɹˌeɪt, hæv tɹˈævəld tə dɐmˈæskəs fɹʌm tɛɹˈɑːn, ɔːɹ fɹʌmðə ʃˈɪaɪt hˈoʊli sˈɪɾi ʌv nˈædʒæf, ɪɹˈæk, klˈeɪmɪŋ tə pɹətˈɛkt sˈeɪjɪdə zˈaɪnæb, ɐn ɪmpˈoːɹtənt ʃˈɪaɪt ʃɹˈaɪn ɪn dɐmˈæskəs.
Shiites from Iraq, in Babil Governorate and Diyala Governorate, have traveled to Damascus from Tehran, or from the Shiite holy city of Najaf, Iraq, claiming to protect Sayyida Zeinab, an important Shiite shrine in Damascus.