Hezbollah prepares for a public funeral for Hassan Nasrallah

Hezbollah is preparing to hold a “public and political” funeral for its former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated in an Israeli air strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut in late September, according to a party official yesterday.

The announcement came shortly after the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel came into effect.

Mahmoud Qomati, deputy head of Hezbollah’s Political Council, said: “We postponed the funeral of His Eminence, the Secretary-General, so we could arrange an honourable farewell that reflects his spirit and martyrdom, along with that of his comrade, His Eminence Sayyed Hashem [Safieddine],” was also killed in an Israeli strike.

Qomati added: “Today, we are preparing for a funeral that will be exceptional, powerful, public, official and political.”

Meanwhile, member of the Lebanese parliament on behalf of Hezbollah, Ibrahim Al-Moussawi, told Al-Mayadeen that “the preparations are complete, and I believe the appropriate date and time for this event will be chosen soon. You will witness a majestic and grand procession by the people of this nation, honouring the martyr of the nation and leader Hassan Nasrallah.”

Nasrallah was killed on 27 September in Israeli air strikes that targeted Hezbollah’s central command headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The attack involved approximately 85 bunker-busting bombs, each weighing one tonne.

The Israeli army also assassinated Hashem Safieddine in a strike in the same area just days after Nasrallah’s death.

The ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel came into effect at 4am local time yesterday, bringing an end to clashes that had begun on 8 October 2023 and escalated significantly since September 2024.

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