Huge crowds gather for Hezbollah leader’s funeral

Large crowds gathered for the funeral of the former Hezbollah chief, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Beirut in September.

Sunday, people in mourning dressed in black in a stadium on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital. They also paid tribute to Hachem SafieddineSuccessor of Nasrallah, who was killed in a separate Israeli strike before being able to assume his post.

Nasrallah, the former leader of the Lebanese militant Islamist Islamist group, was one of the most influential figures in the Middle East.

A few hours before the start of the funeral at 1:00 p.m. local time (11:00 GMT), Israel launched air strikes in southern Lebanon targeting the Hezbollah rocket launchers.

People braved the cold to attend the funeral, which was held at the Camille Chamoun Sports City stadium of 50,000.

The Nasrallah coffin was draped in the Hezbollah flag and paraded with the Safieddine coffin through huge crowds of black mourning.

Extracts from Nasrallah’s speeches were played with the gathered supporters, who chanted, agitated flags and held portraits of leaders.

Hezbollah’s current chief Naim Qassem addressed to mourning people via a video link from an uncompromising place, saying that Hezbollah remained “strong” and “would not submit”.

Umm Mahdi, 55, 55, told the AFP news agency that the funeral was “less than we can do” for Nasrallah “, which abandoned everything” for its cause.

Before his death, he had not been seen in public for years due to fears of being murdered by Israel.

The late leader had close personal links with Iran and played a key role by transforming Hezbollah into a political and military force that it is today. He was revered by supporters of the group.

Under Nasrallah’s 30 -Year Leadership, Hezbollah – Which is Banned as a terrorist organization in the UK, us and other country – Helped train fighters from the palestinian armed group Hamas, as well as militias in Iraq and Yemen, and Obtained Missiles and Rockets from Iran for use against Israel.

He died at the age of 64 Dahieh, a closely guarded suburb of Beirut. After the death of Nasrallah, Hezbollah allowed open access to the region for the first time for a public memorial.

Mass funeral are an apparent show of force for Hezbollah, which underwent a series of major setbacks during the Israel campaign in Lebanon last year.

The Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, wrote on X that Israeli aircraft were over the stadium while the funeral took place to “transmit a clear message: anyone who threatens to destroy Israel – It will be the end of them”.

The foray for Israel in Lebanon occurred after almost a year of cross -border hostilities triggered by the war in Gaza.

Lebanon has been the subject of intense Israeli air campaign and a land invasion of the southern country.

Dozens of senior characters have been killed when Israeli manufacturing talkies exploded a surprise attack in September 2024.

Many highest high military and political leaders in Hezbollah were also killed during the last conflict with Israel.

The offensive killed around 4,000 people in Lebanon – including many civilians – and has led more than 1.2 million residents moved before a The ceasefire agreement was concluded in November.

Representatives of Iran, Iraq and Yemen attended the funeral, who were delayed to give time to withdraw Israeli forces from southern Lebanon – although certain troops are still.

The Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, described the leaders killed as “two heroes of the resistance” in a speech.