Hezbollah Holds Mass Funeral for Dozens of Victims in Southern Lebanon

Hezbollah organized a large-scale funeral in Majdal Selm, southern Lebanon, for dozens of individuals, predominantly fighters who perished in recent confrontations with Israel. The Iran-backed Shiite group has not revealed the precise number of its combatants killed but has held several such ceremonies during a recent de-escalation in hostilities, following a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran on June 17.

The funeral included 44 individuals: 39 fighters, four civilians allegedly killed in Israeli military operations, and one person who died of natural causes in the village. An AFP journalist observed trucks carrying coffins to the cemetery as mourners held portraits of the deceased and former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Many Lebanese have been unable to bury family members in their hometowns due to the ongoing conflict.

The ceremonies took place as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun departed for Washington. He is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump after a new round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon concluded earlier this week. The announcement for the funeral invited supporters to join the "blessed funeral of the martyrs of Majdal Selm," listing the names of those being honored.