Israel Funeral service for Hezbollah leader Nasrallah begins
The funeral ceremony for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel, has begun on the outskirts of Beirut, accompanied by tens of thousands of his supporters. More than 50,000 people gathered in Lebanon's largest stadium and the surrounding area, according to reporters from the German Press Agency. Large crowds watched the event on screens outside the stadium.
23.02.2025, 13:20
SDA
A speech by the Iranian religious leader, Ali Khamenei, was read out at the start. After a prayer, the decorated coffins of Nasrallah and the official Hashim Safi al-Din, who was also killed, were slowly driven into the stadium. Safi al-Din, who was seen as Nasrallah's successor, was also to be commemorated at the ceremony.
Both coffins were draped with the yellow flags of Hezbollah. The crowd erupted in cheers at the sight of the coffins. Many people threw scarves and flags onto the coffins, as can be seen in pictures on the Hezbollah television station Al-Manar.
Kassim's speech is broadcast on video
"Nasrallah loved the people and the people loved him," said Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Kassim in a speech broadcast via video. "He is the leader of our minds and hearts."
According to dpa reporters, several fighter jets and drones - presumably from Israel's army - flew over the area. Many people in the crowd called for the "death of Israel".
In addition to a delegation of important clerics sent by Iran's religious leader Khamenei, other prominent Iranians attended the memorial service: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf traveled to the event, as reported by the Tasnim news agency. Ali Fadawi, deputy commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and Iradj Masjedi, deputy coordinator of the IRGC's Kuds units, were also in Beirut.
High-ranking representatives also traveled from Iraq, where Hezbollah has strong support among the Shiite population. In Shiite areas of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, memorial ceremonies were also to be held in parallel to the funeral service in Lebanon.
