Hundreds of thousands gathered in Beirut on Sunday to attend the funeral of Hezbollah’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, marking a show of strength despite the group’s recent losses in its conflict with Israel.
Nasrallah, who led the Iran-backed group for over three decades, was killed nearly five months ago in an Israeli airstrike targeting Hezbollah’s main operations center in southern Beirut. His death dealt a blow to the organization, which has faced the loss of several senior figures during its 14-month conflict with Israel.
Hezbollah urged supporters to turn out in large numbers at Beirut’s Sports City Stadium, with estimates ranging from 450,000 attendees, according to a Lebanese official, to as many as 1.4 million, reported by the pro-Hezbollah Al-Mayadeen network. These numbers could not be independently verified.
“This massive crowd confirms that Hezbollah remains the most popular party in Lebanon, and claims of its weakening are unfounded,” said Ali Fayyad, a lawmaker with Hezbollah’s political wing.
Global Attendance and Symbolic Displays
Mourners traveled from across Lebanon and beyond. “We would have come even under bullets,” said Sahar al-Attar, who journeyed from the Bekaa Valley.
The funeral procession, accompanied by giant screens displaying the slogan “We are committed to the covenant,” included dignitaries from around the world. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were present, alongside Lebanon’s parliamentary speaker and representatives of the president and prime minister. Notably, Irish activist Tara O’Grady waved an Irish flag, expressing solidarity with Lebanon against what she called Israeli “aggression.”
Israeli fighter jets flew low over Beirut during the procession. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the flyover was intended as a warning: “Whoever threatens to annihilate Israel will meet the same fate.”
Hezbollah’s Defiant Stance
Hezbollah has faced challenges beyond its conflict with Israel, including the collapse of Syria’s al-Assad regime, which disrupted a key weapons and funding route from Iran. Despite calls from opponents for Hezbollah to disarm, the group remains defiant.
In a televised address during the funeral, Nasrallah’s successor, Naim Kassem, reaffirmed Hezbollah’s commitment to its cause. “The resistance is still present and strong in numbers and weapons, and inevitable victory is coming,” he declared. Kassem also reiterated demands for Israel to withdraw from strategic border areas in southern Lebanon.
As Hezbollah continues to face internal and external pressures, Sunday’s funeral served as both a moment of mourning and a demonstration of the group’s enduring influence and resolve.
