On Sunday, tens of thousands gathered in Beirut to honour Hezbollah’s late leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by Israel five months ago. The public funeral was delayed for security reasons at Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Lebanon’s largest venue.
The event opened with a speech by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who read it to a silent crowd. Decorated coffins of Nasrallah and his presumed successor, Hashem Safieddine—killed in a later Israeli airstrike entered draped in Hezbollah’s yellow flag. Acting leader Naim Qassem vowed resilience, stating, “Your struggle lives within us,” in a televised address.
Hezbollah official Ali Daamoush reported 800 dignitaries from 65 countries attended. Large portraits of Nasrallah lined south Beirut, while extra seating and a giant screen outside accommodated thousands more. Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem called it a “show of force,” signalling Hezbollah’s ability to rally support amid setbacks.
Lebanese media noted Israeli jets flying low over Beirut during the event, hours after airstrikes hit southern Lebanon. Israel claimed these targeted rocket launchers were threatening its civilians. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since November despite ongoing border tensions.
As Nasrallah is buried near Beirut’s airport road, the funeral reflects Hezbollah’s enduring influence in Lebanon and the Middle East’s broader geopolitical struggles.
