Sun Feb 23 12:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Tens of Thousands Mourn Hezbollah Leaders in Massive Beirut Funeral
**BEIRUT, Lebanon** – Tens of thousands of mourners gathered at Beirut’s Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium on Sunday for the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah, nearly five months after his death in an Israeli airstrike. The ceremony, delayed due to security concerns, also included a memorial for Nasrallah’s chosen successor, Hashem Safieddine, who was killed in a separate Israeli strike.
Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for over three decades, was killed on September 27, 2024, in an attack that targeted the group’s main operations room. His death, along with Safieddine’s, dealt a significant blow to the Iran-backed organization.
Mourners, many traveling from across Lebanon and beyond, filled the stadium, far exceeding its 50,000 capacity. Images circulating on social media showed a sea of black-clad mourners waving Hezbollah flags and carrying portraits of the deceased leaders. Giant portraits of Nasrallah and Safieddine were also displayed throughout south Beirut.
The funeral was attended by high-ranking officials, including Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Senior Hezbollah official Ali Daamoush stated that approximately 800 dignitaries from 65 countries were in attendance, along with thousands more supporters.
Mourners expressed profound sorrow and grief, emphasizing Nasrallah’s legacy and sacrifice. One mourner, Umm Mahdi, described the attendance as the least they could do for “Sayyed,” a term of respect. Another, Khouloud Hamieh, stated she wouldn’t have missed the event for anything, even if it meant crawling to get there.
Hezbollah has framed the massive turnout as a demonstration of the group’s continued strength and resolve following a 14-month war with Israel. The war ended in November with a US-brokered ceasefire agreement that prohibits Hezbollah from maintaining an armed presence along the Israeli border. Despite this, hours before the funeral, the Israeli military launched strikes in southern Lebanon, targeting what it described as a military site containing rocket launchers and weapons.
The funeral procession concluded with the burial of Nasrallah near the Beirut airport highway; Safieddine will be buried in his hometown on Monday. Iranian officials pledged continued support for the “resistance,” while Hezbollah reiterated its commitment to its cause.
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