In Beirut, Nasrallah's Funeral Draws Hundreds of Thousands: A Look at His Legacy

On Sunday, four hundred and fifty thousand mourners filled the streets of Beirut to attend the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, the longtime leader of Hezbollah, who was assassinated by Israel nearly five months ago. The ceremony, held at a sprawling sports stadium on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital, was a striking display of both grief and defiance. Nasrallah, 64, had led the Iran-backed Shiite militant group for more than three decades, transforming it from a local militia into a formidable regional force. His death marks a pivotal moment for Lebanon and the Middle East, where Hezbollah’s influence has long been a source of both admiration and alarm.

The funeral, described as Lebanon’s largest in decades, drew dignitaries from across the region, including Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Lebanese officials, including representatives of the president and prime minister, also attended, underscoring Nasrallah’s outsized role in the country’s political landscape. Hezbollah’s current leader, Naim Qassem, delivered a speech vowing to continue the group’s “resistance” against Israel, a message that resonated with the black-clad crowds waving Hezbollah’s yellow flags and clutching portraits of their slain leader.

For many in Lebanon and beyond, Nasrallah was a symbol of defiance against Israel and the West. To his critics, however, he was the head of a terrorist organization that wielded disproportionate power in Lebanon, often at the expense of the country’s stability. As India watches the unfolding dynamics in the Middle East, understanding Nasrallah’s legacy and Hezbollah’s role is crucial to grasping the region’s complex geopolitics.

From Cleric to Commander: Nasrallah’s Rise

Born in 1960 in a poor Shiite neighborhood of Beirut, Hassan Nasrallah was the eldest of nine children. His family fled to southern Lebanon during the country’s civil war, where he became involved with Amal, a Shiite political movement. In 1982, following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, Nasrallah joined Hezbollah, a nascent group founded with the backing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming its leader in 1992 after his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Under Nasrallah’s leadership, Hezbollah evolved from a guerrilla force into a sophisticated military and political entity. He oversaw its transformation into a key player in Lebanon’s parliament while maintaining a powerful militia that often overshadowed the national army. Nasrallah’s fiery speeches, delivered from undisclosed locations due to security concerns, became a staple of Middle Eastern media, rallying supporters with promises to resist Israeli occupation and U.S. influence.

His tenure was marked by several high-profile conflicts with Israel, including the 2006 war, which devastated much of Lebanon but cemented Hezbollah’s reputation as a formidable adversary. Nasrallah also expanded the group’s reach, supporting Iran-aligned militias in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, and forging close ties with Hamas in Gaza. This network, often referred to as the “axis of resistance,” positioned Hezbollah as a linchpin in Iran’s strategy to counter Israel and Western influence in the region.

Hezbollah: A State Within a State

For Indian readers, understanding Hezbollah requires a look beyond its militant image. The group, whose name means “Party of God,” was born out of Lebanon’s sectarian strife and the Israeli occupation of the south in the 1980s. It is both a political party and a militia, with a social services network that provides healthcare, education, and welfare to Lebanon’s Shiite community, which makes up roughly a third of the population.

Hezbollah’s dual role has made it a dominant force in Lebanese politics. It holds seats in parliament and has ministers in the cabinet, yet it operates independently of the state, maintaining a private army equipped with Iranian-supplied rockets and missiles. This has led to tensions with other Lebanese factions and drawn criticism from countries like the United States and Israel, which designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. India, while maintaining diplomatic relations with Lebanon, has largely stayed neutral on Hezbollah, focusing instead on its broader ties with the Middle East.

Hezbollah’s influence extends beyond Lebanon’s borders. It played a crucial role in propping up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the civil war and has been accused of training Houthi rebels in Yemen. Its military capabilities, including an estimated 150,000 rockets, have made it a key deterrent against Israeli aggression, but also a lightning rod for conflict. The group’s involvement in the Syrian war and its support for Iran’s regional ambitions have deepened sectarian divides and fueled proxy battles across the Middle East.

A Funeral Amid Fragility

Sunday’s funeral was not just a farewell to Nasrallah but a statement of resilience from Hezbollah, which has faced unprecedented setbacks in recent months. Israel’s assassination of Nasrallah in September 2024 was followed by the killing of his cousin and would-be successor, Hashem Safieddine, days later. The group’s military infrastructure was further battered by Israeli airstrikes and a ground incursion into southern Lebanon, which ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November.

Lebanon, already reeling from economic collapse and political paralysis, has borne the brunt of these conflicts. The war displaced over a million people and killed thousands, many of them civilians. Even as mourners gathered in Beirut, Israeli forces remained in five strategic positions in southern Lebanon, a point of contention that Hezbollah vowed to address. “This resistance will stay and is ready in the field,” said Ali Daamoush, a senior Hezbollah official, urging supporters to turn out in force.

For many Lebanese, Nasrallah’s death symbolizes both the end of an era and the beginning of an uncertain future. His leadership, while polarizing, provided a sense of stability for his followers. Now, with Hezbollah’s command structure shaken and Lebanon’s economy in tatters, the group faces the daunting task of rebuilding while navigating a shifting regional landscape.

Legacy and the Road Ahead

Nasrallah’s death leaves a void that will be difficult to fill. His successor, Naim Qassem, a seasoned cleric who has been with Hezbollah since its inception, has pledged to uphold Nasrallah’s vision. But the group’s ability to maintain its influence amid internal and external pressures remains to be seen. Iran, Hezbollah’s primary patron, has vowed to continue supporting the group, but Tehran is also grappling with its own challenges, including economic sanctions and domestic unrest.

For India, which has growing economic and strategic interests in the Middle East, Hezbollah’s future is worth watching. New Delhi has historically maintained a balanced approach to the region, engaging with both Israel and Arab states while avoiding direct involvement in sectarian conflicts. However, as Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon and the broader region evolves, it could impact India’s energy security, diaspora interests, and counterterrorism efforts.

As the crowds dispersed from Beirut’s streets on Sunday, the mood was one of somber reflection. Nasrallah’s funeral may have been a show of strength, but it also underscored the fragility of a nation caught between competing powers. For Hezbollah, the path forward is fraught with challenges, but its leaders insist that the “resistance” will endure. Whether that resistance can adapt to a new era without its iconic leader remains an open question.