A momentous funeral procession was held on Sunday in Beirut for Hezbollah’s two late secretaries generals, leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Sayyed Hashem Safieddine. The ceremony took place at Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, where tens of thousands of mourners gathered to pay their final respects.
As the coffins of the two leaders entered the stadium, the crowd erupted in chants of allegiance, “Labbayka Ya Nasrallah” (At your service, Nasrallah), “We remain committed to the pledge, Nasrallah,” and “Far from us is humiliation.”
The stadium and the dozens of large screens and speakers spread throughout the Lebanese capital were echoing with iconic speeches made by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as the world bid farewell to the great leaders.
The two leaders, in their caskets, donned with Hezbollah flags, were driven out onto the stadium as people could be seen crying and weeping out of sorrow over the great loss they endured.
In the midst of the ceremony, the Israeli occupation forces violated Lebanon’s sovereignty and airspace, flying fighter jets at incredibly low altitudes over the Lebanese capital. The roar of the engines were met with deafening roars from the people, who chanted in support of the martyred leader, affirming that they would not be deterred by a petty attempt at intimidation.
The funeral ceremonies began at 1:00 PM in the stadium and proceeded towards the burial site of Sayyed Nasrallah on the outskirts of Beirut’s Southern Suburb. Sayyed Safieddine was buried on Monday in his hometown of Deir Qanoun Al-Nahr in southern Lebanon.
Massive crowds flooded the stadium and surrounding streets from early morning, with one reporter describing the scene as a “human tide” converging from all regions.
Dignitaries and official delegations from Lebanon and abroad attended the funeral. The Supreme Funeral Committee confirmed the participation of representatives from approximately 79 countries, including both official and popular delegations. Organizers also noted the presence of high-ranking figures from Iran, Iraq, and a plethora of other nations.
A behemoth procession
The funeral is taking place under heightened security measures implemented by Hezbollah and Lebanese security agencies. The stadium’s seating capacity exceeds 50,000, but tens of thousands more are expected to gather in the surrounding streets to join the funeral march. By 7:00 AM, just an hour after the gates opened, all designated spaces inside the stadium were already occupied.
According to event organizers, the stadium will accommodate over 23,000 seats on the field and 55,000 more in the stands. In the surrounding areas, 35,000 seats have been allocated for men and 25,000 in a separate section for women.
Large screens have been installed along the procession route, while dozens of tents to accommodate visitors and participants have been set up along the streets leading to the funeral site.
To ensure the safety of attendees, the Islamic Health Society has deployed 1,500 medical volunteers, including paramedics, doctors, and nurses, across 60 medical tents. Additionally, 100 ambulances have been stationed along the funeral route.
For days, preparations have been underway to accommodate the massive crowds expected to attend the funeral, with Beirut’s Sports City Stadium set to host both official delegations and the large numbers of mourners.
Sheikh Naim Qassem addresses crowd
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem paid tribute to martyrs Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Sayyed Hashem Safieddine in a speech honoring their legacy, describing Sayyed Nasrallah as “a historic, exceptional, patriotic, Arab, Islamic leader, the model of the free people of the world.”
“Sayyed Nasrallah loved the people and they loved him,” Sheikh Qassem said. “He led both hearts and minds, with his objective always being Palestine and al-Quds.”
Emphasizing Nasrallah’s contributions to the Palestinian cause, he affirmed, “Sayyed Nasrallah’s contribution was great in reviving the Palestinian cause; we will preserve this trust and will continue to tread this path.” He vowed that Hezbollah would remain steadfast, declaring, “We will continue on Sayyed Nasrallah’s path, even if our houses should be destroyed over our heads, even if we are all killed.”
Addressing the gathered crowd, Sheikh Qassem praised their dedication, saying, “The mass mobilization today is unmatched in Lebanese history. You are a loyal and generous people.” He also expressed solidarity with Hezbollah’s prisoners, pledging, “We hail our prisoners and tell them that we will not leave them with the Zionists.”
He denounced the actions of the Israeli occupation and its backers, stating, “We confronted the Zionist entity and its tyrant backers, the United States, which stood against Gaza, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran.” Despite the immense challenges, he emphasized Hezbollah’s resilience, “The amount of pressure faced by the Resistance, its fighters, and its popular base was unprecedented. But on the other hand, their resilience was also unprecedented.”
‘An indomitable people’
“You are an indomitable people,” he told the crowd. “We will stand together and make our pledge together. We will remain true to the pledge, O’ Nasrallah.”
Regarding the ceasefire, Sheikh Qassem explained, “We agreed to the enemy’s request for a ceasefire because we had no interest in continuing the fight without any foreseen political or military future.” He stressed that Hezbollah remained committed to its principles, saying, “Our point of strength is that we agreed to the enemy’s request for a ceasefire based on our principles.”
As for the ongoing Israeli violations of the agreement, he asserted, “We have fulfilled our commitments under the agreement, while Israel has not. The state’s jurisdiction comes into play now that the deadline for the enemy’s withdrawal has passed.”
Sheikh Qassem reiterated the movement’s unwavering commitment to resistance and national sovereignty. “The Resistance is on the ground, and it enjoys paramount manpower and equipment. The inevitable victory is coming,” he declared.
Moreover, he demanded that “Israel” withdraw from the areas it continues to occupy, emphasizing that “Resistance comes from conviction and righteousness. This is the life of the free—liberation. No one can take this right away from us.”
‘The Resistance persists’
Sheikh Qassem called for steadfastness and defiance, urging, “Let your rage consume you. The Resistance persists. It is an established fact. We will not allow the tyrannical United States to control our country.” He reaffirmed Hezbollah’s guiding principle, stating, “We were brought up on the ideal of ‘far from us is humiliation.'”
Criticizing those who claim to be for the “sovereignty” of Lebanon, he said, “Wake up, proclaimed sovereignty advocates, and speak up even once against ‘Israel’ or the United States.” He reiterated that “Resistance is our sole option. It is our conviction. The occupation persists and we will follow up on the actions taken by the state to expel it.”
Sheikh Qassem also addressed regional challenges, vowing, “We will confront Trump’s ethnic cleansing plan alongside the remainder of the liberation forces in the region.”
Touching on Lebanon’s future, he stated, “We will participate in building a strong, just state, and we shall contribute to its renaissance as per the Taif Agreement.” He emphasized Hezbollah’s commitment to resistance and national development: “We are committed to expelling the occupation and reconstruction. We are keen on safeguarding national unity and civil peace.”
Affirming Hezbollah’s place within Lebanon’s social fabric, he said, “Lebanon is a nation for all of its people, and we are part of its people. We will never clash with the Amal Movement.” He concluded with a message of support for the Lebanese Army: “We support the efforts of the Lebanese Army, and we shall remain by its side.”