Thousands gathered in Beirut on Sunday for the delayed funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, who was killed in September by an Israeli airstrike following months of Hezbollah attacks on Israeli civilian targets.
Nasrallah was killed on September 27 when Israel targeted his bunker, previously believed to be impenetrable. His death marked a major blow to Hezbollah, which had already suffered heavy leadership losses. His designated successor, Hashim Safieddine, was also eliminated in an Israeli airstrike before he could assume control. Safieddine was memorialized alongside Nasrallah at Sunday’s funeral.
The Israel Defense Forces conducted a symbolic flyover of the funeral using the same type of warplanes that eliminated Hezbollah’s leadership. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the flyover sent a clear message: “Whoever threatens to destroy Israel and attacks Israel – this will be his end.”
Iran, a major backer of Hezbollah, sent high-ranking officials to the funeral, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who declared that Nasrallah’s death was “not the end of the road” but a new stage in the fight against Israel. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised Nasrallah as a “great holy fighter,” while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed the funeral signaled a “global echo of anti-Zionist resistance.”
Despite Hezbollah’s attempt to project strength, the assassination of Nasrallah and Safieddine has left the group scrambling for stability. Current Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem addressed mourners via video from an undisclosed location, highlighting concerns for his safety.
