Beirut is the capital city of Lebanon, as well as the country's largest city. As one of the oldest and most continuously inhabited cities in the world, Beirut has a history that goes back thousands of years. Currently, it is the fourth-largest city in the Levant, behind Amman, Tel Aviv, and Damascus.
After the fall of the Assad regime in early December, Iran has been cut off from a land corridor to re-supply Hezbollah. As such, this funeral is one way they can still show support.
Hezbollah is testing their standing in new president Joseph Aoun's government.
Protestors claimed their goal was to secure the return of citizens stranded in Iran and block external influences on the Lebanese government.
Iran's ambassador to Beirut, Mojtaba Amani, told Iran's state television on Friday that Iran would allow the planes to land only if Iranian flights were allowed to travel to Beirut.
The official further said that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to lead Lebanon away from Hezbollah and Iran's stranglehold.
The Iranian plane took off from Tehran and was carrying Lebanese passengers.
Nasrallah, who had served as Hezbollah's secretary general for more than 30 years, was killed on Sept. 27.
Aoun must navigate Lebanon’s sectarian divides, restore trust, and fortify the Lebanese Armed Forces. While there is room for optimism, the path ahead demands unwavering resolve and resilience.
Salam said he would work for justice for the victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed at least 220 people and no senior official has taken responsibility for.
Aoun's media appearances are extremely rare, and he has not stated a view on Hezbollah's arsenal.
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