Sun Feb 23 13:00:44 UTC 2025: ## Tens of Thousands Mourn Hezbollah Leaders in Beirut Amidst Israeli Strikes
**BEIRUT, Lebanon –** Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in Beirut’s Sports City Stadium on Sunday for the joint funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s former leader, and his successor, Hashem Safieddine. Both men were killed in recent Israeli airstrikes, marking a significant blow to the Iran-backed militant group. Nasrallah, a founder of Hezbollah and its leader for over three decades, died nearly five months ago after an Israeli attack on the group’s operations center. Safieddine’s death followed a few days later.
The funeral, described as Lebanon’s largest in two decades, drew attendees from across the region, including high-ranking Iranian officials like Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Their presence was notable given recent restrictions on flights from Iran imposed by Lebanese authorities. Hezbollah officials stated that approximately 800 dignitaries from 65 countries were in attendance, along with thousands of supporters.
The procession of coffins through the stadium was met with an outpouring of grief and displays of loyalty. Mourners tossed flowers and clothing onto the coffins, believing it to be a blessing. Throughout the event, the crowd chanted anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans.
The funeral was not without tension. Israeli forces launched several airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon during and before the ceremony, targeting what they described as a military site containing rocket launchers. One Syrian woman was reportedly wounded. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the overflights were a message to those who threaten Israel. Israeli jets also flew low over Beirut during the procession, further escalating tensions.
Hezbollah’s rivals have called for the group to disarm and transition into a purely political entity, a demand that has been amplified given Hezbollah’s losses during a recent 14-month war with Israel and the fall of its ally, the Assad regime in Syria. The group, however, used the funeral as a powerful demonstration of its continued support and resolve, highlighting its commitment to resistance. Stringent security measures, including road closures and a temporary halt to flights at Beirut’s airport, were implemented for the event.
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