Mass Funeral for Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah Draws Tens of Thousands Amid Israeli Airstrikes

Israel Strikes During Funeral

• As tens of thousands of mourners gathered at Beirut’s largest stadium, Israeli fighter jets flew low over the ceremony, a move the Israeli military described as a "clear message" to Hezbollah.

• Israel also carried out new airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, targeting what it said were Hezbollah weapons stockpiles.

• The Israeli military released footage of Nasrallah’s assassination on the same day as the funeral.

A Ceremony Marking an Era’s End

• Nasrallah’s coffin, draped in Hezbollah’s yellow flag, was carried in a massive procession through Beirut’s streets. Mourners threw scarves at the hearse, which were then touched to his turban before being returned to the crowd.

• Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem, speaking remotely, vowed to continue Nasrallah’s legacy, stating:

  “Even if we are all killed, Hezbollah will not disappear.”

• The ceremony also honored Nasrallah’s successor, Hashem Safieddine, who led Hezbollah for just a few days before being killed in an Israeli airstrike last October.

Hezbollah’s Weakened State

• Hezbollah secretly buried Nasrallah shortly after his death, with Sunday’s funeral serving as a symbolic display of strength.

• However, Israel’s autumn military campaign severely crippled Hezbollah’s leadership, killing thousands of its fighters along with hundreds of civilians.

• A ceasefire agreement was signed in November, but Israel has continued to strike Hezbollah targets, claiming the group must be disarmed.

Changing Fortunes

• Nasrallah led Hezbollah for over 30 years, transforming it from a small guerrilla group into a powerful regional force.

• Under his leadership, Hezbollah:

  • Expelled Israeli forces from Lebanon in 2000 after a 22-year occupation.

  • Fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006 that, while costly for Lebanon, solidified Hezbollah’s military reputation.

  • Intervened in conflicts across the region, backing Iran-aligned forces in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.

• However, Hezbollah’s fortunes shifted after its involvement in the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, which triggered a nearly year-long tit-for-tat conflict.

• By September 2024, Israeli forces assassinated several top Hezbollah leaders and exposed the group’s deep infiltration by Israeli intelligence.

What’s Next for Hezbollah?

• With Hezbollah’s military capabilities diminished, its future remains uncertain.

• Israel continues to maintain strategic positions inside Lebanon, despite the ceasefire, and has vowed to keep targeting Hezbollah.

• Lebanon’s new President, Joseph Aoun, has urged Hezbollah to disarm and place all weapons under state control.

• While Hezbollah insists its armed presence prevents Israeli reoccupation, critics argue that its continued militancy undermines Lebanon’s sovereignty.

The funeral marked not just the end of Nasrallah’s era, but also a potential turning point for Hezbollah, as it faces growing internal and external pressures.

See more in: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/23/middleeast/nasrallah-funeral-lebanon-beirut-israel-intl