Huge crowds gather for Hezbollah leader Nasrallah's funeral

Large crowds gathered for the funeral of Hezbollah's former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut in September. Mourners, dressed in black, flocked to a stadium on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital on Sunday. They also paid their respects to Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah's successor, who was killed in a separate Israeli strike before he could take on the role. Nasrallah, the former leader of the Lebanese Shia Islamist militant group, was one of the most influential figures in the Middle East.

Hours before the funeral began at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT), Israel launched airstrikes targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon.

The Camille Chamoun Sports City stadium, with a capacity of nearly 50,000, was almost full hours before the ceremony was set to begin.

Before his death, Nasrallah had not been seen publicly for years due to fears of assassination by Israel.

The late leader had close ties to Iran and played a crucial role in shaping Hezbollah into the powerful political and military force it is today. He was deeply revered by the group's supporters.

Under Nasrallah's 30-year leadership, Hezbollah, which is designated a terrorist organization by the UK, US, and other countries, trained fighters from Palestinian group Hamas, militias in Iraq and Yemen, and acquired missiles and rockets from Iran to use against Israel.

He died at the age of 64 in Dahieh, a heavily guarded area of Beirut.

Nasrallah's coffin was carried through vast crowds of mourners, many dressed in black, waving flags and holding portraits of him.

The massive funeral appears to be a demonstration of strength by Hezbollah, which faced significant setbacks during Israel's campaign in Lebanon last year.

Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, posted on X that Israeli planes were flying over the stadium during the funeral to deliver a clear message: "Whoever threatens to destroy Israel will face their end."

Israel's invasion of Lebanon followed nearly a year of cross-border tensions ignited by the Gaza conflict. Lebanon endured a fierce Israeli airstrike campaign and a ground invasion of its southern region.

In September 2024, a surprise attack using Israeli-made walkie-talkies killed dozens of senior Hezbollah figures.

Many of Hezbollah's top military and political leaders also perished during the latest Israel-Hezbollah clash.

The offensive resulted in around 4,000 deaths in Lebanon, including many civilians, and displaced over 1.2 million people before a ceasefire agreement was reached in November.

Representatives from Iran, Iraq, and Yemen are expected to attend the funeral.