Thousands Mark Nasrallah Assassination Anniversary Across Middle East

Thousands of Hezbollah supporters and sympathizers gathered across Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain, and India to mark the first anniversary of the assassination of Hezbollah's former chief, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024. Commemorative events included gatherings at Nasrallah's tomb near Beirut airport, public ceremonies in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, and memorial events in Bahrain and Lucknow, India, where attendees expressed solidarity with his legacy and the cause of resistance. The new Hezbollah leadership, represented by figures such as Naim Qassem, reaffirmed their refusal to disarm despite government pressure, emphasizing Nasrallah's enduring influence among supporters. Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces and various resistance factions also paid tribute, framing Nasrallah as a unifying figure for Shiites and resistance movements. Demonstrators in Bahrain protested normalization with Israel and demanded justice for Nasrallah and other martyrs. The commemorations highlighted Nasrallah's symbolic role in regional resistance and the ongoing political and military challenges facing Hezbollah post-assassination.