An Israeli warplane flying at low altitude over Beirut during the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, on Feb. 23, 2025. (Credit: Nicholas Frakes / L'Orient Today)
Four Israeli fighter jets flew at low altitude over Beirut’s southern suburbs during the funeral of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, according to our journalists on the ground.
Inside the stadium where the ceremony is taking place, the speaker proclaims: "Allah Akbar! Your missiles did not frighten us, nor did the sound of your planes." During the flyover, women gathered outside the stadium erupted in chants of "Labayka ya Nasrallah" ("At your command, Nasrallah"), according to our journalist Zeina Antonios.
Videos circulating on social media show some people panicking outside Sports City.
Commenting on the flyover, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated in a press release that these planes "send a clear message: Whoever threatens to destroy Israel and attacks it will seal their fate."
Commenting on the Israeli warplanes' low-altitude flyover of Beirut during Nasrallah's funeral, the Israeli army's Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, stated that it was a "clear and strong message." He noted that only "Hezbollah and Iranian militia flags" were visible inside Sports City Stadium.
Adraee shared his message on X, accompanied by several aerial photos taken during the flyover. These images showed three Israeli fighter jets over Beirut, major roads in the Lebanese capital with parts of the crowd, and the runways of Beirut airport.
Two weeks ago, Adraee had issued a warning regarding Beirut airport, claiming that it was being used to transfer funds from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to Hezbollah.
Following this warning, Lebanese authorities indefinitely suspended flights between Tehran and Beirut.
Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes are conducting airstrikes on South Lebanon and the Bekaa, according to our local correspondents.
