Tens of thousands of mourners dressed in black, waving Hezbollah flags or holding portraits of the group’s slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, gathered at his funeral on Sunday in a stadium on the outskirts of Beirut.
Nasrallah, the charismatic leader who guided Hezbollah for over three decades, was killed in a massive Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut in September. His death has been a significant blow to the Iran-backed group’s reputation as a fighting force. Despite this, Hezbollah maintains a solid support base in Lebanon, particularly within the Shia Muslim community, due to its provision of social and economic services.
In freezing temperatures, many from across Lebanon and beyond walked to the site of the ceremony. Among them was 55-year-old Umm Mahdi, who came to see Nasrallah one last time. “Of course, we feel sadness,” she said. “This is the least we can do for Sayyed, who gave up everything.”
As the crowd gathered, Israeli airstrikes were reported in southern Lebanon, including an area about 20 kilometers from the border. Israel claimed these strikes targeted rocket launchers posing a threat to Israeli civilians.
Giant portraits of Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, his chosen successor who was killed before assuming the position, adorned walls and bridges across southern Beirut. The funeral ceremony is taking place at the packed Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, with additional seating installed to accommodate tens of thousands of mourners.
Top Lebanese officials were invited, along with Iranian representatives, including Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who vowed that “the path of resistance will continue.”
Hezbollah supporters traveled in from all corners of Lebanon, including south Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, to attend the event. Khouloud Hamieh, 36, tearfully expressed her devotion to Nasrallah, saying, “The feeling is indescribable, my heart is beating so fast.” Despite the cold and large crowds, she emphasized that she would not miss the funeral for anything.
A security presence of 25,000 Hezbollah members, along with 4,000 troops, will be deployed for crowd control. Iraq’s main pro-Iran factions are also expected to attend, and additional flights have been arranged between Baghdad and Beirut. Beirut’s airport will close from midday to 4:00 pm for the event.
Nasrallah, a founding member of Hezbollah, rose to prominence in 2000 after Israel ended its 22-year occupation of southern Lebanon. Since then, Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon has become increasingly polarizing, with critics pointing to its involvement in conflicts with Israel and its support for Hamas, which has led the country into multiple wars, including the recent one that resulted in over 4,000 deaths in Lebanon.
The United Nations estimates that reconstruction costs from the conflict will exceed $10 billion.
