In Beirut, Southern Lebanon, the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah held a massive public funeral for its slain leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike five months prior, marking a significant loss for the organization.
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02-24, 2025Tens of thousands of mourners flooded the Camille Chamoun Sports City stadium and its surrounding areas to pay their respects to the former militant leader. Many carried pictures of Nasrallah and draped themselves in Hezbollah flags as they moved through the streets, with Lebanese security forces blocking off several blocks to maintain order. This overwhelming turnout underscored the depth of support for Nasrallah and Hezbollah.
Senior officials from the Iranian and Iraqi governments, as well as a delegation from Yemen's Houthi rebels, attended the funeral, indicating Nasrallah's influence in parts of the Arab world. Also present in the crowd were some Hezbollah members injured in a large-scale pager attack orchestrated by the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency, in which thousands of communication devices simultaneously exploded across Lebanon. The presence of these figures highlighted the diverse network of alliances and the historical grievances associated with Nasrallah's leadership.
In the hours leading up to the funeral, Israel continued its airstrikes on southern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel since November. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have struck Hezbollah weapons depots. During the event, Israeli fighter jets flew low over Beirut, provoking jeers from the crowd, demonstrating the ongoing tensions in the region.
The Israeli Defense Minister posted on social media that the air force planes were "circling over Beirut" to deliver a "clear message." The Israeli Defense Minister stated, "Anyone who threatens to destroy Israel and attacks it will bring destruction upon themselves. You will specialize in funerals, and we will specialize in victories," further escalating the rhetoric between the two sides.
Nasrallah was killed on September 27 when the Israeli Air Force bombed his bunker in Dahiya, dropping 80 bombs on the area, resulting in 6 deaths and 91 injuries. His successor, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hashem Safieddine, who was also his cousin, was killed in a separate Israeli attack days later, creating a leadership vacuum within the organization.
The current Hezbollah leader, Naim Qassem, addressed the crowd from a remote location, calling Nasrallah "a historic, distinguished, national, Arab, and Islamic leader—a symbol for the free people of the world, and a beloved figure for fighters and the oppressed worldwide." He stated that Hezbollah's mission would continue in his name. "Even if we are all martyred, we will complete this path, and we will not abandon the option of resistance," Qassem said, reaffirming the group's commitment to its core principles.
One mourner, Zahra Wehbe, became emotional when speaking about Nasrallah. "It's hard to believe that your father is gone, he sacrificed his life for us, we love him so much," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Another member of the crowd, Nour Harakeh, stated that others would step up to continue the fight. "We are all strong, girls and boys, we are all strong," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "For now, he is irreplaceable. But of course, someone will come to continue his role—we must be strong to continue his role."
The charismatic Nasrallah transformed Hezbollah into a major force in the Middle East during his three decades as its leader. With Iran's support, Hezbollah has fired a barrage of rockets and missiles at Israel in solidarity with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, escalating the conflict with Israel. With Nasrallah dead, the ceasefire with Israel in November, and the collapse of the Assad regime in neighboring Syria, Hezbollah's power has been significantly diminished. But Sunday's funeral was an opportunity for the group to demonstrate its strength and its support in Lebanon and beyond, signaling its resilience despite recent setbacks.
