On the day tens of thousands gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mourn the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released dramatic footage of the September 27, 2024, airstrike that killed him. The video, made public on Sunday, offers a rare glimpse into the precision strike that targeted Nasrallah in an underground bunker, marking a significant moment in Israel’s ongoing conflict with the Iran-backed terror group.

Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for over three decades, was killed in a massive Israeli airstrike on the group’s stronghold in Beirut’s Dahiyeh neighborhood last September. The strike, which dropped a staggering 82 heavy bombs, which leveled multiple buildings, also claimed the lives of other senior Hezbollah commanders, including Ali Karaki of the Southern Front, and Revolutionary Guard General Abbas Nilforoushan. The IDF confirmed Nasrallah’s death the following day, stating that the operation relied on years of intelligence-gathering and real-time tracking.

The newly released footage, shows the moment of impact as bunker-busting bombs rained down on the Hezbollah headquarters. Smoke and debris erupt from the site, underscoring the scale of the attack. The IDF’s decision to unveil the video on the day of Nasrallah’s funeral has been widely interpreted as a pointed message to Hezbollah and its supporters.

Sunday’s funeral procession in Beirut drew massive crowds, with estimates suggesting hundreds of thousands of attendees, including Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and terrorist representatives from 65 countries. The ceremony also honored Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s short-lived successor, who was killed in an Israeli strike in October. Hezbollah officials had delayed Nasrallah’s burial until after a ceasefire with Israel took effect, allowing for a public farewell that showcased the group’s enduring influence despite its losses.

As mourners chanted and waved Hezbollah flags, the mood shifted when Israeli fighter jets buzzed low over the city, sending parts of the crowd scattering in panic. The flyover, captured in photos released by the IDF, added a layer of tension to an already charged atmosphere. Social media posts from X reflected a mix of awe and defiance, with one user noting the jets “sent many running,” while another lamented the missed opportunity to “hack the big screens” at the funeral to loop the airstrike footage.

In Beirut, the mood oscillated between grief and resilience. Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, who succeeded Safieddine, has vowed to continue the group’s resistance against Israel. Yet, with much of its senior leadership eliminated and over 1.4 million supporters displaced, the organization faces an uncertain future.

As the funeral concluded, Nasrallah was buried at a dedicated site in Beirut’s southern suburbs, while Safieddine’s burial was scheduled for Monday in his hometown of Deir Qanun.

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