Thousands Mourn Fallen in Lebanon's War

Thousands gathered in southern Lebanon for a mass funeral of nearly 100 killed in the 2023 war with Israel. The ceremony marked the return of bodies to Aitaroun, devastated during the conflict.

Mourners paid tribute to the fallen, including 51 Hezbollah fighters and civilians. "The country lost its young men," said one mourner. "But they were killed on the path of resistance."

Hezbollah is believed to have lost hundreds of fighters in the war.

Lebanon's new prime minister, Nawaf Salam, called for a full Israeli withdrawal and promised residents a safe return home.

The ceremony was attended by delegations from Iran, Iraq, and Yemen.

The war, sparked by a Hamas incursion into Israel, killed over 4,000 in Lebanon and displaced over 1 million. Over 100,000 remain displaced. On the Israeli side, dozens were killed and 60,000 displaced.

Salam also praised the U.N. peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, deployed along the border since 1978. 26 people have been charged in an attack on UNIFIL in February.