The Lebanese Hezbollah group has revealed that the funeral for its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated in Israeli airstrikes, will be held on Feb. 23. The announcement was made by Secretary-General Naim Kassem in a prerecorded speech. Nasrallah was killed on Sept. 27 in a series of Israeli airstrikes in a southern Beirut suburb.
Following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that extended the truce between Hezbollah and Israel until Feb. 18, tensions remain high in southern Lebanon. Israeli troops are still present in the region, with plans for a gradual withdrawal as per the ceasefire terms.
Residents in southern villages have been protesting against the Israeli presence, leading to clashes with Israeli forces. Kassem expressed support for the protests, emphasizing the determination of the South to rid itself of Israeli occupation.
Recent incidents of Israeli forces opening fire on protesters have resulted in casualties, with 24 individuals reported killed in a previous confrontation. Despite Israel's claims of needing to target Hezbollah's military infrastructure, including tunnels, the situation remains volatile.
In addition to Nasrallah, the funeral procession will also honor Hashem Safieddine, another senior Hezbollah official who was considered a potential successor to Nasrallah. Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah since 1992, played a significant role in transforming the group from a local militant organization to a powerful regional force with political influence in Lebanon.
