Beirut Prepares for the Historic Funeral of Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah
Thousands Expected to Mourn as Hezbollah Holds a Grand Funeral for Nasrallah and Safi al-Din Following Their Assassination by Israeli Airstrikes
Watan-Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, is preparing for an extraordinary scene as the funeral of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and Executive Council Chairman Hashem Safi al-Din approaches. Both were assassinated by Israeli airstrikes in a series of intense raids last year.
According to Hezbollah’s announcement, the funeral will take place on February 23 at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in Beirut, where tens of thousands of mourners are expected to attend, alongside official delegations from 79 countries worldwide. This reflects the strategic significance of the event and its political and regional impact.
The Assassination Operations
On September 27, 2024, Israel launched a series of precision airstrikes targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs after closely tracking Nasrallah’s movements inside a secret Hezbollah facility. According to intelligence reports, Israel used drones and high-precision missiles to strike the building where Nasrallah was located, completely destroying it and killing him along with several Hezbollah leaders.
Israel did not stop there. On October 3, 2024, another wave of airstrikes targeted Hezbollah’s leadership sites, leading to the assassination of Hashem Safi al-Din, who was regarded as the party’s second-in-command and Nasrallah’s potential successor. This operation was carried out using advanced tracking technology to precisely locate and strike his position during a security meeting.
The Funeral Procession
The funeral will begin with a recitation from the Quran, followed by the Lebanese national anthem and Hezbollah’s anthem. Then, the coffins of Nasrallah and Safi al-Din will be transported on a special military vehicle—a display meant to demonstrate Hezbollah’s strength and deliver a clear message of defiance to Israel.
Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, is expected to deliver a eulogy, after which the funeral prayer will be performed, and the procession will move toward the burial sites.
According to Hezbollah’s announcement:
- Hassan Nasrallah will be buried near Beirut’s airport road, in a location from which he oversaw all his security movements.
- Hashem Safi al-Din’s body will be transferred to his hometown in southern Lebanon, where he will be buried alongside his family.
A Political Event of Major Significance
This funeral is not just a farewell to two prominent figures; it is a highly significant political event. The assassination of Nasrallah marks a turning point in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and could push Hezbollah toward a large-scale military escalation in response.
Since the announcement of Nasrallah’s death, international reactions have intensified:
- Hezbollah’s allies have condemned the operation.
- Other parties believe his assassination could reshape Lebanon’s political landscape and the region as a whole.
All eyes are now on Hezbollah’s speech during the funeral, which is expected to deliver strong escalatory messages against Israel and its allies.
