After ceasefire, Hezbollah to hold mass funerals for fighters killed in Israel conflict

Beirut: Hezbollah has announced that mass funerals will be held in southern Lebanon on Tuesday for 44 fighters who were killed during more than six weeks of conflict with Israel.

The burials follow a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which was announced on Friday by US President Donald Trump.

Details of burials in southern towns

The Iran-backed group has not disclosed the total number of fighters it has lost since Israel launched a large-scale wave of airstrikes and a ground offensive in Lebanon last month.

However, it confirmed that 29 fighters will be buried in the town of Kfar Sir, describing the ceremony as the return of “a group of blessed souls to the soil of the south”.

In addition, 15 fighters and one civilian will be laid to rest in the village of Qlaileh. Some of those being buried had initially been laid to rest in other locations, with the ceasefire now allowing their return to southern Lebanon.

Temporary burials and religious practices

Under Shia Muslim traditions, temporary burials are permitted in situations where proper funeral arrangements cannot be carried out or when individuals cannot be buried in their preferred location.

Funeral held in Beirut suburbs

On Monday, footage showed Hezbollah conducting funeral rites for four additional fighters in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The gathering included chants and gunfire from attendees.

Casualty figures from the conflict

Lebanese authorities have said that Israeli strikes have resulted in at least 2,387 deaths since the conflict began on March 2.

The health ministry reported that those killed include at least 274 women and 177 children, though it does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Israel’s claim on militant casualties

Israel stated last Wednesday that it had killed more than 1,700 Hezbollah fighters during the course of the conflict, according to reports.

Agency inputs