Tehran: Speaker of Iran’s parliament to Attend Funeral of Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah
Background
Speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will travel to Lebanon for the funeral of long-time Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday, Iranian media reported. Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn out in Beirut to bid farewell to the Iran-backed group’s leader.
Nasrallah’s Assassination
An Israeli air strike killed Nasrallah on September 27 last year, marking the start of an all-out war between his group and Israel after roughly a year of lower-level conflict. The massive air strike on Hezbollah’s south Beirut stronghold also killed Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior commander in Iran’s Quds Force – the foreign operations arm of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Hezbollah and the "Axis of Resistance"
Hezbollah is part of Iran’s "Axis of Resistance", a loose alliance of forces united in their opposition to Israel. In October 2023, Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel in solidarity with fellow axis member Hamas during the Gaza war. Those exchanges escalated into more than two months of full-scale war before a ceasefire came into effect in November last year.
Ghalibaf’s Attendance
Ghalibaf "along with a number of parliamentarians and state officials will leave on Sunday for Lebanon to attend Nasrallah’s funeral", member of parliament Alireza Salimi told the official IRNA news agency on Saturday. On Friday evening, the Fars news agency reported that foreign minister Abbas Araghchi would also attend the ceremony.
Nasrallah’s Leadership and Legacy
Nasrallah led Hezbollah for more than three decades and was a major figure in Middle Eastern politics. In retaliation for his killing, Iran fired around 200 missiles at Israel in October. In response, Israel struck several military sites in Iran.
Conclusion
The funeral of Hassan Nasrallah is expected to be a significant event, with tens of thousands of people expected to attend. The attendance of Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and other officials is a testament to the importance of the occasion.
FAQs
- Who is Hassan Nasrallah?
Hassan Nasrallah is the long-time leader of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. - What is the "Axis of Resistance"?
The "Axis of Resistance" is a loose alliance of forces united in their opposition to Israel, of which Hezbollah is a part. - Who is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf?
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is the Speaker of Iran’s parliament. - What is the significance of Nasrallah’s funeral?
The funeral of Hassan Nasrallah is expected to be a significant event, with tens of thousands of people expected to attend, and the attendance of Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and other officials is a testament to the importance of the occasion.