On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Beirut for the funeral of Hezbollah’s ex-leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The event was more than just a farewell, it was a carefully orchestrated display of the party’s political and organizational power
Hundreds of thousands gathered at Camille Chamoun Sports City stadium on February 23 for the long-awaited funeral of Ex-Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and presumed successor of the party, Hashem Safieddine Hashem Safieddine, both killed in Israeli airstrikes in Dahye.
The mass turnout served as a message to both domestic and international audiences that, despite the significant military losses, the group remains a formidable force. Yet, as Hezbollah showcased its resilience, questions emerged: Was the grand funeral an effort to rally support, or did it reflect deeper internal anxieties about the party’s future?
The large delegations attending the funeral were meant to reflect the profound influence Nasrallah had built over decades, not only within Hezbollah but across the broader “Axis of Resistance.”
In a video played at the stadium, Hezbollah’s current leader, Naim Qassem who was not present at the funeral, considered the massive turnout as a testament to the unwavering support for the party. “This immense gathering in Lebanon is an expression of loyalty to the resistance,” he declared. “The resistance endures and will remain, regardless of what others may think. Do not mistake our patience for weakness.”
As the truck carrying Nasrallah’s coffin entered the stadium, the crowd erupted in a mix of grief and chants. His voice, taken from past speeches, echoed through loudspeakers, with some mourners throwing their scarves toward the vehicle in a symbolic gesture, wiping away tears, while others passionately chanted, “Labbayka ya Nasrallah!” (“At your service, Nasrallah!)
The “Axis of Resistance” delegations
Iran’s flag was highly visible throughout the funeral procession, while the Lebanese flag was largely absent, appearing only in a few isolated instances. Video footage from the event showed Hezbollah and Amal Movement flags dominating the scene.
It seems that Iran had the most prominent political presence at the funeral, from the foreign minister to speaker of parliament, highlighting its deep ties with Hezbollah. The official Iranian group also included judicial figures and nearly 40 members of parliament, showing the high-level nature of Iran’s involvement in the party.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, a large Iraqi delegation that included political, religious, and media figures were also at the funeral. The influx of dignitaries prompted Beirut’s airport to suspend flight operations between noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday to facilitate the arrival of attendees.
On the Lebanese front, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri attended the funeral in a personal capacity, while President Joseph Aoun was represented by an envoy. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam was also represented, with Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar attending on his behalf.
Nasrallah’s central role in the ‘Axis of Resistance’
His assassination marked a crucial moment in the war between Hezbollah and Israel. In its aftermath, the party emerged significantly weakened, raising questions about the group’s future and its ability to maintain its influence.
“Nasrallah’s leadership left a profound mark on Lebanon and the region, but with heavy consequences as he positioned the Shiite community in isolation, dragged Lebanon in two destructive wars that ultimately cost his own supporters the most, and most notably his alliance with Bashar al-Assad contributed to the brutal suppression of the Syrian people.” Amjad Barakat, geopolitics master’s student at University of Munich Middle East Program explained to NOW.
The funeral took place under the shadow of Israeli warplanes, which flew over the procession in a deliberate show of force.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant took to the social media platform X to reinforce this point, stating, “Israeli Air Force jets currently flying over Beirut’s skies during Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral are delivering a clear message: Those who threaten to destroy Israel and attack it will meet this fate.”
This action was widely interpreted as an attempt to intimidate Hezbollah’s supporters and signal that Israel retains air superiority in any potential future confrontation.
Although the party succeeded in projecting a display of popular support, symbolic power and social dominance by drawing massive crowds and reinforcing the party’s narrative, on the political level, the event did little to bury the deeper question on the minds of both Hezbollah’s supporters and the party’s critics, and that is if the funeral buried the party’s leader or was it the burial of the party.
“Nasrallah’s leadership was not just about military strategy and a political scheme, it was about perception and loyalty. He crafted the party’s image as an unshakable force, balancing its role as an armed group, a political party and a social institution.” Jawad explained.
His charismatic character might make it difficult for the current leader to replicate the personal authority and influence he exerted over both the party and its base, according to Jawad.
In the lead-up to and during the funeral, Israel also launched a series of airstrikes inside Lebanon.
According to observers, the number of strikes reached ten, the same number of jets reportedly used in the assassination of Nasrallah, suggesting that the figure was more than just a coincidence. Instead, it was seen as a calculated message to Hezbollah, reinforcing Israel’s dominance in the war.
For years, Hezbollah’s critics, activists, journalists, and political figures had lived under the shadow of intimidation, silencing, and, in many cases, assassination. A significant number felt that Nasrallah’s death was not just the loss of a leader but the long-overdue reckoning of a figure they saw as responsible for suppressing and eliminating opposition voices.
Rodayna Raydan is a Lebanese-British journalist. You can follow her on Twitter @Rodayna_462
The views in this story reflect those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of NOW.
