The Lebanese Hezbollah group Sunday announced the funeral of its long-time leader will take place on February 23, months after he was assassinated in a series of Israeli air strikes in a southern Beirut suburb.
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Secretary General Naim Kassem made the announcement regarding his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah in a pre-recorded speech. It came days after a US-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended the war between the Lebanese militant group and Israel was extended until February 18.
Nasrallah was killed on September 27 after a series of Israeli air strikes struck several buildings in a southern Beirut suburb. A top security aide said Nasrallah was inside the militant group’s war operations room when the strikes took place.
Israeli troops are still present in parts of southern Lebanon, where under the ceasefire agreement they are supposed to gradually withdraw while Hezbollah’s militants withdraw north of the Litani River as Lebanese army soldiers disperse. Residents of those villages, many waving Hezbollah flags, have been protesting in those villages and have scuffled with Israeli troops, which Kassem praised.
“The South says that there is no possibility for Israel to remain in it, there is no possibility for Israel to remain an occupier, and let everyone know that the sacrifices, no matter how great, will ultimately lead to the liberation of the land and the exit of Israel,” said Kassem.
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Earlier on Sunday, Israeli forces opened fire to disperse protesters in the southern villages of Yaroun and Kfar Kila. The Lebanese Health Ministry did not announce any casualties.