People place a picture of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah over the rubble of the shrine of Shamoun al-Safa, in the village of Shamaa in Sour, Jan. 31, 2025. (Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP)
BEIRUT — Hundreds of thousands of people are expected in Beirut on Sunday for the joint funeral of Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine. In the lead up to the event and amid extensive preparations, the Internal Security Forces (ISF) released a statement on Friday evening detailing several measures in place that will affect movement within the capital.
Following a meeting of the Central Security Council, Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar said that the measures prepared by law enforcement to oversee the funerals of the slain Hezbollah leader and his short-lived presumed successor are aimed at ensuring the safety of participants and "all citizens."
The main ceremony will take place at the Beirut Sport City Stadium in the municipality of Ghobeiri, in Beirut's southern suburbs, and will be followed by a procession during with Nasrallah's coffin will be carried to his resting place in the nearby neighborhood of Burj al-Barajneh.
Parking
Parking will be prohibited from 9 a.m. Saturday until the end of the ceremony in the southern suburbs of Beirut, along the following routes:
• On both sides of the highway (Khaldeh – Ouzai – Sultan Ibrahim) up to the UNESCO roundabout.
• On both sides of the old airport road, from the Shatila roundabout towards the airport.
• The surroundings of the Sports City (east and west side), as well as the street adjacent to the parking lot of the Arab University and Ghana Street.
Parking will also be prohibited from 10 p.m. Saturday until the end of the ceremony, on the following roads:
• The road connecting the Barbir intersection to the Rashidine/Salam intersection, towards the UNESCO roundabout (both directions).
• The Beshara al-Khoury – Barbir road (both directions).
• The area under the Cola bridge towards the Sports City (both directions).
• Habib Abi Shahla Street (both ways).
• The road connecting the Rifai/Corniche Mazraa intersection to the Cola roundabout (both directions).
• The road connecting the Cola intersection to the new Ring road – Mazraa Corniche.
• The road connecting the Ring road to Cola.
• The Salim Salam highway, and the road linking Zokak al-Blaat to the Sports City (both directions).
• Ghana Street (adjacent to the Sports City) to the intersection leading to the Retirement Home (both directions).
• Both sides of the Saida Corniche.
From midnight (on the night of Saturday Feb. 22 to Sunday Feb. 23), parking and vehicle traffic will be prohibited on the following roads:
• Imad Mughniyeh Street, from Hazmieh to the airport road, as well as the side roads leading to it.
• The airport tunnels, from Khaldeh and under the Khaldeh bridge, with traffic diverted towards Choueifat – Hadath or Ouzai – UNESCO.
• The road leading to the airport bridge from al-Khashoggi Mosque (under the tunnel), as well as the Shatila roundabout, diverted towards the Tayyouneh roundabout.
• The road from Salim Salam towards al-Assad highway, with traffic diverted towards Corniche Mazraa – UNESCO – Ouzai.
• The road from under the Cola bridge towards the al-Assad highway – Kuwait Embassy, with redirection towards the UNESCO roundabout – Ouzai.
• The side roads leading to the old airport road from Shatila toward the airport, in both directions.
• The side roads leading to al-Assad highway, in both directions.
Alternative routes to Beirut international airport
The ISF also provided alternative routes to allow travelers going to or coming from the airport in southern Beirut, where all flights have been suspended from noon to 4 p.m. Middle East Airlines (MEA) has changed its flight schedules, while Air France and Emirates have suspended those they had scheduled.
• Ouzai – Sardine Roundabout – towards al-Ahed Stadium up to the airport (both ways).
• Hadath – Choueifat – Tayero – Cocodi – Airport (both ways).
• Khaldeh – Choueifat – Tayero – Cocodi – Airport (both ways).
• Beirut Forum – Corniche Mazraa – UNESCO – Ouzai – Sardine Roundabout – towards al-Ahed Stadium – Airport.
• Beirut Forum – Maritime Line (Ain al-Mreisseh – Manara – Raouche – Ramlet al-Baida…) – Ouzai – Sardine Roundabout – Airport (both ways).
• The highway Khaldeh – Ouzai – Sultan Ibrahim – UNESCO Roundabout will remain open to traffic in both directions, allowing access to and from Beirut.
Traffic restrictions for trucks
Trucks will be subject to traffic restrictions during this period. Their passage will be forbidden on the main roads from the Bekaa to Beirut, as well as on the Zahrani highway, to ensure the smooth and secure flow of traffic.
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