Gambiaj.com – (BEIRUT, Lebanon) – Beirut witnessed a day of high tension on Sunday as thousands gathered for the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and his expected successor, Hashem Safieddine. The ceremony, held at the Camille Chamoun Stadium in southern Beirut, took place under the shadow of Israeli air activity and rocket fire into Lebanese territory.

According to multiple reports, Israeli fighter jets flew low over Beirut and its suburbs as the funeral began, a move seen as a direct show of force. The official Lebanese news agency ANI reported that Israel also carried out strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon earlier in the morning. Addressing the crowd, a speaker at the ceremony dismissed the intimidation attempts, stating, “The noise of your planes will not scare us.” The massive crowd, filled with fervor, responded with chants of “Death to Israel.”

The funeral drew tens of thousands of mourners, many struggling to accept the death of the Hezbollah leader, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September. Large portraits of Nasrallah and Safieddine adorned the venue as prayers, songs, and speeches honored their legacy. Giant screens broadcasted the ceremony, amplifying the atmosphere of grief and defiance.

Following the main service, a three-kilometer procession was planned to escort the bodies to their final resting place. Security was at its highest, with some 4,000 Lebanese soldiers and police officers, along with 25,000 Hezbollah militants, deployed to safeguard the event. The scale of security and attendance was also seen as a demonstration of Hezbollah’s ability to mobilize, despite the loss of key figures in Israeli strikes.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a statement on the occasion, vowing that “resistance against usurpation, oppression, and arrogance will not end and will continue until its ultimate objective.” His remarks reaffirmed Tehran’s support for Hezbollah and its ongoing confrontation with Israel.

The funeral took place amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict. With Hezbollah showing resilience despite Israeli strikes, and Iran reinforcing its commitment to the movement, tensions in Lebanon remain at a critical level.