Thousands of mourners gathered on Beirut’s Corniche on Thursday to mark the anniversary of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's death in a massive Israeli air strike on the Lebanese capital.
The crowd stood in solemn silence, waiting eagerly to see whether the image of their cherished leader would be projected on to Raouche’s Pigeon Rocks, a natural formation jutting into the Mediterranean and one of Beirut’s best-known landmarks.
The illumination of Mr Nasrallah and his expected successor, Hashem Safieddine – who was also assassinated – on to the cliffs had initially been planned as part of Hezbollah’s commemoration events.
But it quickly caused controversy among some political leaders and the population, who saw it as an attempt by the group to impose itself in public space and claim a national symbol.
Authorities did not grant Hezbollah permission to illuminate the landmark or project portraits of its late leaders, but uncertainty lingered until the last minute over whether the group would comply with the decision or defy the ban.
Suddenly, cheers erupted from the crowd as the rocks lit up with Mr Nasrallah’s image. “He deserves even more, he deserves the sky to be lit up,” one man shouted, as the crowd chanted in unison, “At your service, Nasrallah."
But Mr Nasrallah’s picture was not the only one projected onto the rocks. Alongside the portraits of Mr Nasrallah and Mr Safieddine, images appeared of Parliament Speaker and Amal movement leader Nabih Berri, and of former prime ministers Saad Hariri and his father Rafic Hariri, two Lebanese Sunni leaders.
The men displayed on the rock represent a good sample of Lebanon’s traditional political class.
“This shows that Mr Nasrallah does not represent only one sect, he is a national symbol for all of Lebanon. He is a beloved Lebanese leader who was martyred for Lebanon and Palestine,” said Hassan, 54, who lives in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where Hezbollah holds sway.
“He is a symbol for everyone.”
The choice of figures displayed came as a surprise, as they have generally belonged to opposing sides of Lebanon’s political divide.
Many in the country have long blamed Hezbollah and its Syrian backers for the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafic Hariri. A UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon later convicted Hezbollah members in their absence for the killing, while the group has consistently denied any involvement.
Some participants regarded the display as a symbol of unity, while others considered it to be a provocation and a challenge to the authorities’ ban.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam denounced the move on X as “a flagrant violation of the agreement given by the city’s governor".
“I have contacted the ministers of interior, justice and defence to take appropriate measures, including the arrest of those responsible and their referral to justice to be punished in accordance with the law,” Mr Salam said.
He said that “such reprehensible behaviour will not divert us from our decision to rebuild a state based on law and institutions; on the contrary, it strengthens our determination to carry out this national duty".
Demonstration of strength
Thursday’s event at Raouche was the first in a series of 18 days of ceremonies, scheduled until October 12, to commemorate the killings of Mr Nasrallah and Mr Safieddine last year.
The Corniche was packed with mourners amid a heavy presence of security forces. The crowd included families, women and children in strollers. Many carried pictures of their assassinated leader and waved Iranian and Lebanese flags alongside Hezbollah’s yellow banner.
Women wearing yellow headbands, Hezbollah's colour, were in tears, unable to speak, as they waited for the ceremony to begin while sitting at a Dunkin’ Donuts on the Corniche facing the rocks. In the crowd, a man stood with Mr Nasrallah’s face tattooed on the back of his head.
For many, Mr Nasrallah was a father figure, and they had come to pay their respects.
"The 'Sayyed' is more important than my father. He has done more than the Arab states and the government. There is no one like him. Until now, I still can’t believe his is dead. We are waiting for him to return,” said Kahraman Raha, 35.
But many also came to demonstrate strength. Once seen as a formidable militia and a state within a state, the Iran-backed group’s power has been considerably weakened by 14 months of conflict with Israel, which officially ended in a November ceasefire.
“We are here because this is a memory for all Lebanese, because he liberated Lebanese land. The mobilisation is also symbolic, Hezbollah is not weakened, on the contrary, the support is even stronger and people are more motivated,” said Maya El Khoury, one of those at the ceremony.
Israel has continued bombing Lebanon on a daily basis despite the ceasefire, and has held on to five positions it considers to be strategic along the border.
Hezbollah's future has never been so uncertain. Its disarmament, long a taboo subject, is now on the table, despite Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem repeating that the group will not abandon its weapons.
The US has pressed for the group to fully disarm in exchange for Israel complying with its side of the truce, halting strikes on Lebanon and withdrawing from the occupied positions.
But many in the crowd said Hezbollah will never disarm. “Our weapons are our honour,” Mohamed Younes, 24, told The National.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Profile
Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
Launch year: 2017
Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
Read more about the coronavirus
Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)
Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)
The view from The National
Studying addiction
This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.
Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.
The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
General%20Classification
%3Cp%3E1.%20Elisa%20Longo%20Borghini%20(ITA)%20Trek-Segafredo%3Cbr%3E2.%20Gaia%20Realini%20(ITA)%20Trek-Segafredo%207%20secs%3Cbr%3E3.%20Silvia%20Persico%20(ITA)%20UAE%20Team%20ADQ%201%20min%2018%20secs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Profile Box
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif
Based: Manama, Bahrain
Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation
Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($100,000)
Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
The team
Videographer: Jear Velasquez
Photography: Romeo Perez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Models: Meti and Clinton at MMG
Video assistant: Zanong Maget
Social media: Fatima Al Mahmoud
