Israeli warplanes flew over Beirut during Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral, which Israeli defence minister Israel Katz called a “clear message.” The jets, reportedly the same ones used in the airstrike that killed him, circled above as tens of thousands gathered at Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium to pay their respects.
‘You will specialise in funerals’
In a statement, Katz confirmed the Israeli Air Force’s presence over the Lebanese capital. “The Israeli Air Force planes currently circling in the skies of Beirut over Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral are sending a clear message: Whoever threatens to destroy Israel and attacks Israel—that will be his end,” he said. He added: “You will specialise in funerals—and we in victories.”
A widely circulated video showed Hezbollah supporters carrying Nasrallah’s remains through packed streets when the formation of jets soared directly above. The scene drew mixed reactions, with Hezbollah followers condemning it as provocation and Israeli officials framing it as a warning to the group’s leadership.
Airstrike that killed Nasrallah
Nasrallah was killed last September in an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s underground headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed his death, with spokesperson Nadav Shoshani stating on X, “Hassan Nasrallah is dead.” The IDF also declared, “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise the world.”
The strike was part of an ongoing escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, particularly since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7. Hezbollah, which has been designated a terrorist organisation by the US since 1997, had launched repeated attacks on Israeli military positions along the border, calling it a “backup front” for Gaza. Nasrallah had insisted that Hezbollah’s strikes helped divert Israeli forces away from Hamas, vowing not to stop until a ceasefire was reached.
Hezbollah’s longtime leader
Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah led Hezbollah for over three decades, transforming it into one of the most powerful militant groups in the Middle East. Born in 1960 into a poor Shiite family, he joined the Amal movement before co-founding Hezbollah in the 1980s. Under his leadership, the group formally declared its formation in 1985 with an “open letter” that named the US and the Soviet Union as Islam’s main enemies and called for the “obliteration” of Israel.
Following his death, Israel launched further operations aimed at pushing Hezbollah back from the border. The escalation has resulted in the deaths of several Hezbollah commanders and left dozens dead and thousands injured.