Large crowds collect for Hezbollah chief’s funeral

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

Mourners wearing black flocked to a stadium on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital on Sunday. In addition they paid their respects to Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s successor, who was killed in a separate Israeli strike earlier than he may assume his publish.

Nasrallah, the previous chief of the Lebanese militant Shia Islamist group, was probably the most influential figures within the Center East.

Hours earlier than the funeral started at 13:00 native time (11:00 GMT), Israel launched air strikes in southern Lebanon concentrating on Hezbollah rocket launchers.

Individuals braved the chilly to attend the funeral, which was held on the 50,000-capacity Camille Chamoun Sports activities Metropolis stadium.

Nasrallah’s coffin was draped in Hezbollah’s flag and paraded together with Safieddine’s casket by large crowds of black-clad mourners.

Excerpts of Nasrallah’s speeches have been performed to the gathered supporters, who chanted, waved flags and held portraits of the leaders.

One mourner, 55-year-old Umm Mahdi, informed the AFP information company that the funeral was the “least we are able to do” for the late Hezbollah chief “who gave up all the pieces” for his trigger.

Previous to his demise, Nasrallah had not been seen in public for years due to fears of being assassinated by Israel.

The late chief had shut private hyperlinks to Iran and performed a key position in turning Hezbollah into the political and navy drive it’s right now. He was revered by the group’s supporters.

Underneath Nasrallah’s 30-year management, Hezbollah – which is banned as a terrorist organisation within the UK, US and different international locations – helped practice fighters from the Palestinian armed group Hamas, in addition to militias in Iraq and Yemen, and obtained missiles and rockets from Iran to be used towards Israel.

He died aged 64 in Dahieh, a closely-guarded suburb of Beirut. After Nasrallah’s demise, Hezbollah allowed open entry to the realm for the primary time for a public memorial.

The mass funeral is an obvious present of energy for Hezbollah, which suffered a collection of main setbacks throughout Israel’s marketing campaign in Lebanon final 12 months.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that Israeli planes have been flying over the stadium whereas the funeral occurred to “convey a transparent message: whoever threatens to destroy Israel – that would be the finish of them”.

Israel’s incursion into Lebanon got here after nearly a 12 months of cross-border hostilities sparked by the battle in Gaza.

Lebanon was topic to an intense Israeli air marketing campaign and a floor invasion of the nation’s south.

Dozens of senior figures have been killed when Israeli-made walkie-talkies have been detonated in a shock assault in September 2024.

Lots of Hezbollah’s most senior navy and political leaders have been additionally killed in the course of the newest battle with Israel.

The offensive killed round 4,000 individuals in Lebanon – together with many civilians – and led to greater than 1.2 million residents being displaced earlier than a ceasefire deal was struck in November.

Representatives from Iran, Iraq and Yemen attended the funeral, which was delayed to permit time for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon – although some troops nonetheless stay.

Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi described the slain leaders as “two heroes of the resistance” in a speech.