The long-awaited funeral for Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was held on Sunday, nearly five months following his death in a significant Israeli airstrike targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Hezbollah has suffered considerable losses due to Israeli assaults, and the large gathering was designed to demonstrate the resilience of the militant and political organization. Reports from local and state media indicated that Israel targeted multiple sites in southern and eastern Lebanon during the mass funeral, claiming to have struck Hezbollah’s weapon stockpiles.
A formation of Israeli fighter jets flew at a low altitude over the main funeral site shortly after the unveiling of Nasrallah’s coffin, which the Israeli military described as “a clear message” to Hezbollah. Additionally, the Israeli military released footage purportedly showing the assassination of Nasrallah.
Tens of thousands of mourners filled Beirut’s largest stadium, with crowds spilling into the adjacent streets. A grand procession followed the hearse of the deceased leader to a shrine in southern Beirut, designated as his final resting place.
Mourners tossed scarves onto the hearse, which pallbearers placed on Nasrallah’s turban, resting atop the coffin draped in Hezbollah colors, before returning them to the crowd.
From a remote location, Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem addressed the attendees, pledging to persist in Nasrallah’s legacy “even if we are all killed.”
The ceremony on Sunday also honored Nasrallah’s successor, Hashem Safieddine, who led the group for only a few days before being killed in an Israeli strike in early October.
Hezbollah officials have reported that Nasrallah was interred in a private ceremony shortly after his passing. The fact that his burial took place only on Sunday highlights the diminished condition of the militant organization, which suffered significant losses during an Israeli military operation in Lebanon last autumn that nearly decimated its senior military leadership and resulted in the deaths of thousands of its fighters, along with hundreds of civilians.
A ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel was established last November, concluding a prolonged conflict; however, this has compelled the militant group to operate more clandestinely, as Israel continues to target what it identifies as Hezbollah positions.
Transforming circumstances
Nasrallah’s demise signifies the conclusion of a significant chapter for a militant organization that evolved from a disorganized band of guerrilla fighters in 1982 into a formidable regional power with influence across at least four nations.
He ascended to the leadership of the armed group in 1992 at the age of 32. He subsequently directed a guerrilla campaign in southern Lebanon that successfully expelled Israeli forces from the country in 2000, thereby ending a 22-year occupation. In 2006, he commanded Hezbollah militants during a full-scale conflict with Israel, which caused extensive destruction in Lebanon but ultimately thwarted Israel’s objective of dismantling the group.
During the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, Nasrallah’s forces intervened to support Iranian-backed groups, thereby reinforcing Tehran’s influence in the region.
However, the dynamics shifted for Hezbollah following the unexpected assault led by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities on October 7, 2023. In response, the militant organization initiated daily rocket strikes on Israel’s northernmost regions, aligning with Hamas and causing the displacement of around 60,000 Israelis. Concurrently, approximately 100,000 residents from southern Lebanon were also forced to flee due to Israeli retaliatory strikes, leading to a cycle of violence that persisted for nearly a year before escalating into a full-scale war last September.
Nasrallah characterized this situation as a “supportive front,” asserting that its purpose was to compel Israel to halt its retaliatory actions in Gaza, which have devastated significant portions of the already besieged territory and resulted in over 48,000 casualties.
In mid-September, Israel executed a series of detonations involving explosives concealed within thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies utilized by Hezbollah members, resulting in the assassination of several leaders of the organization. This operation revealed the extent of Israel’s deep infiltration into the militant group.
As a result of these actions, Hezbollah’s viability as a militant entity is now being questioned. Israel has pledged to persist in targeting the group’s positions until disarmament occurs and has maintained five strategic locations within the southernmost region of Lebanon, thereby violating the ceasefire agreement established in November.
Hezbollah, which garners significant support from Shia Muslims throughout the region, is classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and numerous other Western nations.
Within Lebanon, the group faces mounting pressure to disarm. This pressure reached a peak during the inaugural address of newly elected President Joseph Aoun in January, where he emphasized the necessity for the state to hold a monopoly on weapons.
Hezbollah has consistently resisted demands to relinquish its arms, asserting that such weapons are essential for preventing Israel’s reoccupation of Lebanon. Critics, however, argue that the group’s militant stance undermines the establishment of a stable Lebanese state.