BEIRUT — Following the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the longstanding leader of Lebanon’s militant group Hezbollah, thousands of his supporters have converged on Beirut for his funeral slated for Sunday. Nasrallah was killed on September 27 when the Israeli air force unleashed over 80 bombs on Hezbollah’s primary operations center in southern Beirut, marking a significant escalation in Israel’s targeted operations against the group.
His assassination, a major blow to Hezbollah, came after more than 30 years of leadership during which he transformed the organization into a formidable power within the region. Known for his Iran-backed Shiite group, Nasrallah’s death has been seen as part of a larger pattern of significant losses for Hezbollah, especially in the recent conflict with Israel that resulted in the deaths of numerous high-ranking military and political figures.
His cousin and designated successor, Hashem Safieddine, was also killed shortly after Nasrallah due to another Israeli airstrike. Both leaders had been temporarily buried in undisclosed locations, but Hezbollah recently revealed plans for their public funerals.
The funeral ceremony is expected to draw large crowds to Beirut’s main sports stadium before Nasrallah’s final resting place. A surge in flights from Iraq—a country with a considerable Shiite population that largely supports Hezbollah—has flooded Beirut, with an estimated 6,000 people arriving in recent days, as confirmed by an anonymous official from the Iraqi transportation ministry.
Notably, among the attendees is American commentator Jackson Hinkle, renowned for spreading misinformation on social media, particularly regarding Russia’s actions in Ukraine. After arriving in Beirut, he expressed his honor on the social media platform X, sharing a photo of himself in a war-torn Lebanese village, proudly holding a Hezbollah flag.
Widely venerated among his followers, Nasrallah also held the title of sayyid, which highlights his lineage tracing back to the Prophet Muhammad. However, the Lebanese government has faced backlash after revoking permission for a passenger plane to carry attendees from Iran, stranding many supporters in Tehran and causing protests among Hezbollah loyalists within Lebanon. This decision followed Israeli accusations that Iran was using civilian flights to funnel money to Hezbollah.
In light of the travel restrictions, some individuals initially planning to arrive from Iran have opted to reroute through Iraq. Additionally, other Iran-backed factions from the region are making their way to Beirut to pay their respects. Kazim al-Fartousi, a spokesperson for the Iran-backed Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada group in Iraq, stated upon arrival that Nasrallah represented a guiding force and source of inspiration.
In the political arena, U.S. Republican Representative Joe Wilson condemned Lebanese officials intending to attend Nasrallah’s funeral, asserting that their presence would symbolize support for the Iranian regime. Wilson took to social media to voice his disapproval, emphasizing the gravity of attending the ceremony of a figure he labeled a terrorist.
In summary, the upcoming funeral of Hassan Nasrallah has sparked considerable international attention and has become a focal point for expressions of loyalty from various factions, reflecting the ongoing complexities of regional politics in the aftermath of his death.
