Iran-backed Hezbollah and Hamas attend Khamenei funeral ceremonies

Envoys from Iran-backed militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas were present at the funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Saturday. State media reported that representatives from both organizations met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Iran has a long history of supporting groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthi rebels, which are designated as "terrorist" organizations by the United States and other Western nations. These alliances form what Iran terms its "axis of resistance" network, aimed against Israel.

The Hezbollah delegation was led by senior official Mohammed Fneish, while the Hamas delegation was headed by Mohammed Darwish, the chief of its political bureau. The attendance underscores the strong ties between Iran and these regional militant factions.

Notably, Ismail Haniyeh, the former political leader of Hamas, was killed in Tehran in July 2024 following an Israeli operation after attending the inauguration ceremony for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Also present at Khamenei's ceremonies were Ziyad al-Nakhalah, leader of Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, and Houthi official Dhaif Allah al-Shami.

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Representatives of Tehran-backed militant groups attended the funeral ceremonies of slain Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday, with envoys from Hezbollah and Hamas meeting with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, state media reported.