The Legacy of Hassan Nasrallah and the Future of Hezbollah
The funeral of Hezbollah’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, marked a pivotal moment in Lebanon’s political landscape. Held nearly five months after his death in an Israeli airstrike, the event drew hundreds of thousands of mourners, showcasing the enduring influence of the Iranian-backed militant group. Nasrallah’s legacy, spanning over three decades, transformed Hezbollah into a formidable force within Lebanon and the broader Middle East.
The Massive Turnout and Its Implications
The crowd at Nasrallah’s funeral was estimated to range from 450,000 to a staggering 1.4 million, according to various sources. Hezbollah supporters from across Lebanon and beyond traversed the country to honor their fallen leader, making the turnout a public display of support for hezbollah’s resistance.
Sahar al-Attar, a mourner from Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We would have come even under bullets” to attend Nasrallah’s burial.
Ali Fayyad, a lawmaker with Hezbollah’s political wing, emphasized that the massive turnout “confirms that Hezbollah is still the most popular party at the Lebanese level.” This assertion contradicts the narrative that Hezbollah’s influence has waned following significant setbacks in a 14-month war with Israel, in which many of its senior officials were killed.
Proving Continued Power and Popularity: Nasrallah’s influence
The symbolic funeral event carried messages of resilience and defiance, reinforced by a proximity of senior hezbollah officials. Nasrallah shared the funeral with his cousin and successor, Hashem Safieddine, SpiegelServices who was also killed in an Israeli airstrike. Giant screens along the streets of Beirut captioned the procession: “We are committed to the covenant,” mirroring the signature politics of Hezbollah.
Hezbollah allies from around the world also attended the funeral, with Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi among the officials from 65 countries. Non-official participants, including Western activists, made the event a truly international display of support.
Though Hezbollah is not supposed to maintain an armed presence along the border with Israel as per the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, the funeral sent a clear message: Hezbollah remains defiant and resolute. Naim Kassem, the current Secretary-General of Hezbollah, who took over post-Safieddine, delivered a televised speech asserting, “the resistance is still present and strong in numbers and weapons. The inevitable victory is coming.”
The Interactions Amid the Funeral
Ahmed Nahas, the Hezbollah mouthpiece, emboldened the presence of four Israeli fighter jets flying low over Beirut during the procession. This audacious act provoked chants of “Death to Israel” and “At your service, Nasrallah” from the crowd. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz responded with a statement, saying, “Whoever threatens to annihilate Israel and strike Israel — that will be his end.”
A Look at Hezbollah’s Future Strategies
There are two primary directions for Hezbollah’s future strategies. The first involves maintaining an armed presence in southern Lebanon, effectively defying Israeli and US pressures. The second is to focus on political maneuvers and influencing policy from within Lebanon’s political framework.