At the funeral of Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqeel in Beirut, Lebanon, mourners gathered to pay their respects to one of the 16 Hezbollah commanders and fighters killed in an Israeli missile strike in southern Beirut. The procession, which included the funerals of Aqeel and Mahmoud Hamad, concluded at the Rawdat al-Hawraa Zainab cemetery in Ghobeiry, located in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The funeral of Ibrahim Aqeel was marked by its unusual setting and arrangements. Unlike typical high-profile funerals held in the main Martyrs hall, this event took place in a closed-off intersection in southern Beirut. The absence of a televised speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a customary feature for such occasions, was notable.
Security measures were evident at the funeral, with a dog deployed to sniff the surrounding streets for explosives as attendees made their way to the gathering. Mourners sat on plastic chairs, facing a gate adorned in yellow through which the coffin of the slain leader was expected to pass. A somber atmosphere prevailed, with a march band standing in attention and Quranic verses resonating through loudspeakers.
