Israel flew jets over Beirut on Sunday as hundreds of thousands of Hezbollah supporters gathered for the funeral of their late leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Lebanese state media confirmed that Israeli planes flew at low altitude over Beirut, with AFP journalists hearing the rumbling noise. “The hostile warplanes flew at low altitude over the skies of Beirut and its suburbs,” the National News Agency said.
In response to the rumbling noise, Hezbollah supporters shouted: “Death to America, death to Israel.”
FLYOVER: Tens of thousands mourn Hezbollah terror leader Hassan Nasrallah in mass funeral in Lebanon. The Israeli Air Force conducts a flyover reminding the terrorists who put him in the ground.
— @amuse (@amuse) February 23, 2025
This is the way to do it – as Hezbollah terrorists and their supporters gather to say farewell to Nasrallah…
The Israeli air force flies overhead and gives them a message.
Anywhere. Anyplace. Anytime. pic.twitter.com/Kyn8wNf1WH
— David Collier (@mishtal) February 23, 2025
According to The War Zone, the Israeli Air Force used two F-35Is and two F-15Is in the operation.
The IDF, confirming the operations, later released photos of the Israeli fighter jets that flew over Nasrallah’s funeral.
“רעם אדיר” בשמי לבנון:
מטוסי קרב של חיל-האוויר במהלך הלוויתו של חסן נסראללה בביירות. pic.twitter.com/WPRLRrNI1H— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) February 23, 2025
Defense Minister Israel Katz said the jets flying over Beirut are sending a clear message that “those who threaten and attack Israel will meet the same fate.”
Israeli Defense Minister Katz:
Israeli Air Force jets flying over Beirut during Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral are sending a clear message: Those who threaten and attack Israel will meet the same fate.
You focus on funerals—we focus on victories. pic.twitter.com/3caNOKaq2s
— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 23, 2025
Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting an underground Hezbollah command bunker in Beirut’s southern suburbs in September. The attack, involving over 80 precision-guided bombs, destroyed the facility and eliminated several top Hezbollah officials.
On Sunday, Israel also released footage of the bunker bombing for the first time. It’s confirmed that dozens of JDAMs with BLU-109/B warheads were used to destroy the underground facility.
ב-27 בספטמבר 2024, בשעה 18:21 ובמסגרת מבצע “סדר חדש”, צה״ל חיסל במספר תקיפות במקביל את חסן נסראללה, מנהיג ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה ויחד איתו את עלי כרכי, מפקד חזית הדרום ומפקדים בכירים נוספים במפקדה התת-קרקעית של חיזבאללה בביירות, לצד תשתיות צבאיות נוספות pic.twitter.com/LCbqGELCeW
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) February 23, 2025
The Beirut gathering also honored Hashem Safieddine, who briefly led Hezbollah following Nasrallah’s death before being killed by Israel.
Hezbollah’s new leader, Naim Qassem, did not attend the funeral due to security concerns but he addressed the public remotely.
“We will uphold trust and walk on this path, we will uphold your will,” Qassem said, referring to Nasrallah. “You are still with us: your path and struggle live within us” and “I am loyal to the legacy Nasrallah.”
Nasrallah will be laid to rest on a plot of land near the airport road in Beirut’s southern suburbs, while Safieddine will be buried in his hometown of Deir Qanoun en-Nahr in southern Lebanon.
A fragile ceasefire has been in effect between Israel and Hezbollah since November 27. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel was expected to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by January 26, but the deadline was extended to February 18 after Israel failed to meet the original terms.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army withdrew from southern Lebanese towns but continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.
