The long-awaited funeral for Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, is finally taking place in Beirut, nearly five months after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike. The event is seen as a display of strength for the militant and political group, which has been significantly weakened by Israeli attacks.
Tens of thousands of mourners have gathered at Beirut's largest stadium and surrounding streets to pay their respects. The ceremony will include a procession to transport Nasrallah's coffin to a shrine in southern Beirut, where he will be laid to rest.
The funeral also honors Nasrallah's successor, Hashem Safieddine, who was killed in an Israeli strike shortly after assuming leadership of the group. Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah since 1992, played a significant role in driving Israeli forces out of Lebanon in 2000 and leading Hezbollah militants in a war against Israel in 2006.
However, Hezbollah's influence has waned in recent years due to ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. The group's involvement in supporting Hamas in a conflict with Israel led to significant casualties and displacement on both sides.
Israel's continued strikes on Hezbollah targets have further weakened the group, raising questions about its future as a militant organization. Calls for Hezbollah to disarm have grown, both domestically and internationally, with the Lebanese President urging the group to relinquish its weapons.
Despite resistance from Hezbollah, pressure is mounting for the group to disarm and allow the Lebanese state to assert control over security matters. The future of Hezbollah as a militant force remains uncertain as it navigates internal and external challenges.
