Hezbollah has spent the past month preparing for the funeral of its leaders, Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, who were killed by Israel during the 2024 conflict. The party hopes this event will show that its supporters remain loyal, despite the heavy losses.
Hezbollah has urged supporters from Lebanon and abroad to attend the funeral, which will take place on Sunday.
Travel difficulties
Recently, the Lebanese government suspended flights from Iran to Beirut due to security concerns. As a result, Hezbollah had to find alternative routes. Flights from Baghdad to Beirut quickly filled up, so Hezbollah’s allies in Iraq helped organise travel for many supporters.
At Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport, tensions flared when attendees insisted on displaying Nasrallah posters and chanting pro-Hezbollah slogans.
Nasrallah’s son, Mohammed Mehdi, also joined the effort to encourage attendance. On social media, he accused enemies of trying to block the funeral. He urged people to ignore traffic and weather issues and to come to the event.
Security on high alert for Hezbollah funeral
Authorities are on high alert, preparing for possible clashes between Hezbollah supporters and their opponents.
On Friday, President Joseph Aoun met with ministers and security chiefs to discuss the measures in place. A security source mentioned that all agencies are fully prepared for any developments.
The funeral will likely cause disruptions across Lebanon, as Hezbollah supporters travel to Beirut from all over the country. To manage the flow of people, authorities have suspended flights from Beirut’s airport on Sunday afternoon, from 12 pm to 4 pm.
Hezbollah officials have confirmed that attendees from 79 countries, including government representatives, will be present.
Hezbollah uses funeral to reinforce political influence
Ali al-Amine, a political activist and editor of Janoubia, believes Hezbollah’s efforts to mobilise supporters are politically driven. According to al-Amine, the funeral is more than a tribute to Nasrallah and Safieddine. It’s a strategic move.
Hezbollah is using all its resources to ensure a large turnout. Anyone who fails to attend could be seen as betraying the cause. Al-Amine suggests the party is trying to reshape Lebanon’s political landscape following its defeat in the war, as well as the formation of a new government that excludes Hezbollah ministers.
The party aims to challenge the state-building efforts and to strengthen its influence within the Shiite community, which it sees as key to its survival.
Sectarian sentiment and international attention
Al-Amine also believes Hezbollah’s spending on the funeral reflects its intention to “sanctify” Nasrallah. He suggests the party wants to turn his burial site into a shrine, similar to those in Iraq, Syria, and Iran.
Moreover, officials from the Iran-backed Houthi militias are expected to attend. Moammar al-Eryani, Yemen’s Information Minister, has called for their arrest, accusing them of war crimes and human rights violations.
Former Minister Dr. Rashid Derbas noted that Lebanon cannot arrest these individuals without a warrant, which it does not have.
