Hezbollah has announced that the funeral of its former chief, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2023, will be held on February 23, as reported by The Times of Israel.
Nasrallah’s Death and Funeral Announcement
- Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on September 23.
- Due to security concerns, a funeral was not held immediately, following two months of war that ended in a ceasefire on November 27.
- Hezbollah’s current leader, Naim Qassem, announced the funeral date, stating:“We hope that it will be a grand funeral procession befitting this great personality.”
Netanyahu’s Claims and Successor’s Death
In October 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed responsibility for Nasrallah’s death, stating:
“We’ve degraded Hezbollah’s capabilities. We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself and Nasrallah’s replacement, and the replacement of the replacement.”
Qassem also confirmed that Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s chosen successor, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on October 3, just before his leadership was publicly announced.
IDF Claims 50 Killed in West Bank Offensive
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Sunday that 50 Palestinian militants have been killed since the launch of its ‘Operation Iron Wall’ in the northern West Bank on January 21.
Key Details of the Offensive:
- 35 militants killed in ground operations in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tamun.
- 15 killed in drone strikes.
- 100 Palestinian suspects detained, with over 40 weapons confiscated.
- More than 80 explosives neutralized.
- 23 buildings demolished in the Jenin refugee camps, which IDF claims were used for terrorist activities.
The military acknowledged mistakenly targeting civilians, including a toddler, during operations. The IDF has stated that the offensive will continue for several more weeks.
The region remains tense amid escalating conflicts between Israel, Hezbollah, and Palestinian factions.