Mass Funeral Held in Beirut for Former Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah
A massive crowd gathered in Beirut to pay their final respects to former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, whose funeral was held nearly five months after his death in an Israeli airstrike. Dressed in black and carrying Hezbollah flags or portraits of the late leader, mourners filled a stadium in the Lebanese capital in an emotional farewell.
A Delayed Farewell
The funeral, postponed due to security concerns, drew tens of thousands of supporters. Men, women, and children braved the cold to attend, walking long distances to reach the ceremony site. The overwhelming turnout reflected Nasrallah’s lasting influence on Hezbollah and the broader Lebanese political landscape.
Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for over three decades and played a key role in shaping its military and political strategies, was killed in an Israeli airstrike last September. The attack targeted the group’s central operations room in southern Beirut, with more than 80 bombs reportedly dropped by Israeli forces.
His successor, Hashem Safieddine, also lost his life in a separate Israeli raid before he could officially take over the leadership. In response to security risks, the bodies of both leaders had been temporarily buried in undisclosed locations.
A Global Gathering
The funeral was not only a major event for Lebanon but also attracted international attention. Senior Hezbollah official Ali Daamoush stated that approximately 800 figures from 65 countries were present, along with thousands of individuals and activists from across the world. The massive attendance demonstrated the global reach of Hezbollah’s influence and the impact of Nasrallah’s leadership.
As part of the preparations, large portraits of both Nasrallah and Safieddine were displayed on bridges and walls throughout southern Beirut, symbolizing their legacy. To accommodate the vast number of attendees, Hezbollah installed large screens along the airport road and outside the stadium, ensuring that those who could not enter the venue could still witness the proceedings.
Security Measures and Regional Tensions
Strict security measures were implemented throughout Beirut, reflecting concerns over potential threats. Authorities shut down major roads around the funeral site, and air travel to and from Beirut’s international airport was suspended for four hours. Lebanese security forces, including the army and police, were on high alert, while the use of drones in Beirut and its suburbs was prohibited for the day.
Meanwhile, tensions remained high in the region. Just hours before the funeral began, Israeli military forces launched fresh attacks on southern Lebanon, further escalating the already volatile situation between Hezbollah and Israel.
