Funeral of Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday After Israeli Airstrike

The funeral of top Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the militant group’s headquarters in Beirut, is set to be held on Friday. Nasrallah’s death marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, heightening fears of a broader regional war.

India Today’s Ashraf Wani shared exclusive images of the six-story building reduced to rubble after the Israeli airstrike. In Iran, protests erupted following news of Nasrallah’s death, with demonstrators shouting slogans like “Down with the US,” “Down with Israel,” and “Revenge,” while holding photographs of the slain Hezbollah commander. Iran also demanded an immediate UN Security Council meeting, as Hezbollah’s hostilities with Israel continue to escalate.

In response to Nasrallah’s death, Lebanon declared a five-day period of mourning. Sirens were sounded in several parts of Israel after his death. A projectile fired from Lebanon hit the Israeli-occupied West Bank, but no injuries were reported. Sirens also went off on the outskirts of Jerusalem, which the Israeli military said were triggered by “a launch from Lebanon toward Israeli territory.”

Following Nasrallah’s killing, the Israeli military claimed to have also eliminated Hassan Khalil Yassin, who led a Hezbollah intelligence unit responsible for identifying Israeli military and civilian targets. Hezbollah announced that Nasrallah’s cousin, Hashem Safieddine, would take over as the group’s new chief. Both Nasrallah and Safieddine were founding members of the militant group.

On Monday night, Israel announced that it had begun “targeted ground raids” in southern Lebanon, despite international calls for restraint. In retaliation, over 100 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel, though no injuries were reported. Overnight Israeli strikes on central Beirut resulted in six deaths and eight injuries.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that 46 people were killed and 85 injured in Israeli attacks across the country in the previous 24 hours.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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