Tens of thousands flooded Beirut’s streets early Sunday for the funeral of Hezbollah’s iconic leader Hassan Nasrallah, five months after his killing in an Israeli airstrike. The event, Lebanon’s largest public gathering in two decades, showcased the Iran-backed axis of resistance amid escalating Middle East tensions. Nasrallah, who led the group for over 30 years, transformed Hezbollah into a regional powerhouse opposing Israel and Western influence.
High-profile attendees included Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, signaling Tehran’s unwavering support. Lebanese officials and representatives from Iraqi, Yemeni, and Palestinian factions also joined.
“This resistance will stay ready,”declared senior Hezbollah figure Ali Daamoush, urging supporters to defy Israel through mass turnout.
The funeral’s scale—with 800 international delegates and activists—serves as a strategic display of resilience after recent setbacks:
- A 14-month war with Israel that decimated senior leadership
- Collapse of Syria’s Assad regime, a critical arms conduit from Iran
- U.S.-brokered ceasefire demanding Hezbollah disarm near Israel’s border
Nasrallah and his cousin Hashem Safieddine, killed days later in another strike, were temporarily buried secretly before Sunday’s ceremonies. Safieddine’s burial in southern Lebanon underscores Hezbollah’s grassroots ties.
Beirut deployed unprecedented security measures: road closures, a four-hour airport shutdown, and drone bans. Giant screens broadcast the stadium service to overflow crowds along the airport highway. Analysts view the theatrics as countering claims of Hezbollah’s decline post-Nasrallah, while rivals demand full disarmament per the November ceasefire.
With chants of “We are committed to the covenant,” supporters framed the event as both mourning and defiance. As regional alliances shift, Hezbollah’s ability to mobilize masses despite leadership losses could reshape Lebanon’s political landscape and Iran’s proxy warfare strategy.
