Mass funeral held for slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah

BEIRUT,— Tens of thousands gathered Sunday at a stadium in Beirut for the funeral of Hezbollah’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, nearly five months after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Nasrallah died when Israeli warplanes targeted Hezbollah’s main operations center in a southern suburb of Beirut, according to sources. His death marked a major setback for the Iran-backed group, which he led for more than three decades, expanding its regional influence.

As a founding member, Nasrallah was a central figure among Iran-aligned factions in Iraq, Yemen, and the Palestinian territories. He was widely regarded within the so-called “axis of resistance.”

“We would have come even under gunfire,” said Sahar al-Attar, who traveled from Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley to attend. “It is an indescribable feeling.”

Nasrallah’s funeral coincided with that of his cousin and successor, Hashem Safieddine, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut days later.

Nasrallah will be buried in the capital, while Safieddine will be laid to rest in his southern Lebanese hometown. Both were temporarily laid to rest at undisclosed sites for security purposes.

As the coffins were carried through the stadium, mourners threw flowers and personal belongings toward them.

Senior officials, including Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, attended alongside Lebanese officials. The funeral was one of Lebanon’s largest gatherings in two decades.

Qalibaf and Araghchi arrived separately from Tehran, signaling an apparent easing of restrictions on Iranian flights. Lebanese authorities had suspended flights from Iran after Israeli officials alleged Hezbollah was receiving smuggled cash via commercial carriers.

Israeli warplanes flew low over Beirut as Nasrallah’s coffin was paraded through the stadium, with his 2006 war speech playing in the background. The crowd responded with chants of “Death to Israel.”

Hezbollah’s current Secretary-General, Naim Kassem, addressed mourners via a televised speech. “Today, we say goodbye to an extraordinary leader,” he remarked. “The resistance remains strong in numbers and arms, and victory is inevitable.”

“The enemy must withdraw from the land it occupies,” Kassem added, reiterating Hezbollah’s stance. “America will not dictate our future.”

Thousands waved Hezbollah’s yellow banners, chanting slogans against Israel and the United States.

“The turnout proves Hezbollah remains strong,” said attendee Sarah Taqi. “Despite the pain, we must stay resilient.”

Senior Hezbollah official Ali Daamoush said nearly 800 representatives from 65 countries attended, alongside thousands of individuals and activists. The funeral was seen as a show of Hezbollah’s enduring strength despite heavy losses in a 14-month conflict with Israel.

Hours before and during the funeral, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon.

The Israeli military said the strikes targeted a Hezbollah site containing rocket launchers and weapons. Lebanon’s state news agency reported that a Syrian woman was wounded.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli warplanes flying over Beirut during the funeral were meant to send a “clear message” that those who threaten Israel would face consequences.

Hezbollah suffered another strategic blow with the fall of Syria’s Assad regime in December, a key ally facilitating arms and financial support from Iran.

Under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended the war with Israel on Nov. 27, Hezbollah is barred from maintaining an armed presence along the border. Opposing political factions in Lebanon continue to call for the group to disarm and transition into a political party.

Authorities implemented strict security measures for the funeral, closing major roads and banning drone activity over Beirut and its suburbs. The Lebanese army and police were on high alert, and flights at Rafik Hariri International Airport were halted for four hours starting at noon.

(With files from AP)