An exceptional presence on a historic day: A report on million-person farewell to Martyred Hezbollah leaders

In a report, Al Jazeera described the funeral procession of Martyrs Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, the Secretary-Generals of Hezbollah, as historic. They were martyred in brutal Zionist regime attacks on Beirut while defending Palestine and Al-Quds. The ceremony was attended by more than one million people.

A Scene Filled with Sorrow and Mourning

According to the report, over a million mourners gathered in the streets of Beirut to bid farewell to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, and his deputy, Sayyed Hashem Safieddine. It was one of the largest funerals Lebanon had ever witnessed.

People from various regions of Lebanon, as well as from Arab and European countries, flooded into

Beirut for this exceptional farewell, reflecting the heavy loss and deep sorrow that weighed on the hearts of the mourners.

An Unprecedented Presence

Amid the massive crowd, tears, and grief, participants from different countries expressed their profound sorrow.

Baqir al-Jaberi, an attendee from Iraq, stated: "We, the Iraqi convoys, especially the Ansar al-Imam Charity Group, came here to stand alongside our Lebanese brothers in their sorrow and to serve the mourners."

Ayat Ayoub, a Palestinian woman attending the funeral, said: "We participated to reaffirm our loyalty and continue the path of this martyr. We are also deeply grateful to the Lebanese people, especially the people of the south, who never compromised on their rights."

Jamil Mohammed Ahmed, a Yemeni participant, said with grief: "We came to bid farewell to the martyr of the Ummah. If there were no obstacles, all Yemenis would have attended. He (Nasrallah) was a supporter of Arabs

and Muslims, dedicating his entire being to defending justice and standing for Gaza and Islam."

Another mourner emotionally stated: "When the Sayyed was martyred, we felt an immense sadness. We lost him, but we know he is now in paradise, yet we still feel his presence among us."

A Funeral of Millions

The ceremony began at Camille Chamoun Stadium in Beirut, where mourners gathered from the early morning, carrying Hezbollah and Lebanese flags, chanting slogans expressing the weight of this loss.

The event saw extensive official representation, with attendees including: Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, representative of Joseph Aoun, President of Lebanon, Mohammad Haidar, Minister of Labor, representing Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and also delegations from over 70 countries, including Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Tunisia.

The funeral began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the Lebanese national anthem and the Hezbollah anthem. As grief intensified, Israeli warplanes flew at a low altitude over the procession

in a significant security development.

Hezbollah’s Response and Future Stance

In an address during the funeral, Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General, said:
"Resistance remains our strategic choice. Despite the great loss of our leaders, Hezbollah will stay committed to its oath and mission."

He emphasized, "Agreeing to a ceasefire with the Zionist regime at this stage is a point of strength, but Lebanon’s government must fulfill its responsibilities."

"Israel has not adhered to the agreement. We exercised patience, but faced blatant aggression and bombings", he continued and added,” Hezbollah will never allow the United States to dominate Lebanon."

Burial and the Final Farewell

After the stadium ceremony, the body of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was carried in a three-kilometer procession toward his burial site, located between two roads leading to Rafic Hariri International Airport, which is expected to become a place of pilgrimage starting Monday.

Meanwhile, the body of Sayyed Hashem Safieddine was transferred to his hometown, Deir Qanoun al-Nahr, in southern Lebanon for burial.