Hassan Nasrallah's Funeral: Iraqi Militia Response and Attendance
Feb 27, 2025
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Most of the top militia leaders appeared too cowed to show up, but a wide assortment of senior Iraqi "resistance" and political figures did attend, including potential future candidates for prime minister.
On February 23, Lebanese Hezbollah held its official funeral for deceased leader Hassan Nasrallah. The Beirut event garnered significant attention from Iraqi militias, who placed great emphasis on the proceedings. Several high-profile Iraqi figures and factions were present, reflecting the strong ideological ties between Hezbollah, Iraq’s muqawama (resistance) groups, and their political supporters.
Iraqi Government Officials and MPs
A number of Iraqi government figures attended the funeral, demonstrating the event's political significance:
Top officials from Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) were present, including U.S.-designated human rights abuser Faleh al-Fayyad and U.S.-designated terrorist Abdul-Aziz al-Mohammadawi (aka Abu Fadak) (Figure 1). Also in attendance was Muhannad al-Aqabi, head of the PMF media department (Figure 2). Media reports suggest that on February 22, an Iraqi delegation that included the leaders of U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations traveled to Lebanon aboard an Iraqi presidential aircraft, which constitutes sanctionable material support to terrorism.
Figure 1: Fayyad and Abu Fadak attending Nasrallah's funeral in Beirut. Figure 2: Aqabi attending Nasrallah's funeral in Beirut. - The Iraqi government delegation included at least two senior advisors to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani: Emad al-Mosafar and Salam Adil (Figure 3). Both serve in the Prime Minister’s Office and are known for their close ties to muqawama militias. They were also part of Sudani’s recent delegation to the United Kingdom.
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Naim al-Aboudi—a member of the U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH)—attended in his official capacity (Figure 4).
Figure 3: Fresh from being warmly hosted in the UK, Mosafer and Adil attended Nasrallah's funeral in Beirut. Figure 4: Aboudi attending Nasrallah's funeral in Beirut, in evident emotional distress. - Former prime minister Adil Abdulmahdi, a political godfather-like figure to the militias, was present.
- Also in attendance were two "independent" members of parliament: Mustafa Sanad, supported by U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization Kataib Hezbollah (Figure 5), and Youssif al-Kilabi, known for his close ties to the muqawama, especially the Badr Organization.
Militia Presence
Various militia groups played a significant role in the funeral, with high-profile members and media figures actively participating:
Kataib Hezbollah
KH had a strong presence, deploying many of its members to the event. KH flags were prominently displayed throughout the funeral, and many members concealed their identities by wearing masks.
Asaib Ahl al-Haq
Two senior AAH members attended:
- Chief of staff Jawad al-Talibawi, whose son-in-law was recently implicated as the murderer of U.S. citizen Stephen Troell.
- Deputy secretary-general Muhammad al-Tabatabai (Figure 6)
AAH secretary-general Qais al-Khazali did not attend, but on the day of the funeral he delivered a televised speech mourning Nasrallah and pledging to continue Hezbollah’s mission, including the goal of annihilating Israel.
Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba
The group was represented at the funeral by Ali al-Asadi, head of its political office (Figure 6).
Its leader, Akram Kaabi, did not attend but issued a statement on the same day mourning Nasrallah and reaffirming the group's commitment to Hezbollah’s ideological path and continued “resistance” against Israel and Western influence.
Badr Organization
A mid-level delegation from the Badr Organization was present at the event, led by Abu al-Akbar al-Zirjawi.
Badr leader Hadi al-Ameri also did not attend in person.
The Hikma Movement
The movement was represented by high-ranking member Hassan Fadam al-Janabi, a former MP known for his close ties to the muqawama and particularly to the late militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Other Key Figures in Attendance
- Hamid al-Husseini, head of the Iraqi Radio and Television Union and a key media figure within the militia network. He is also a high-ranking official in both KH and the U.S.-designated Islamic Radio and Television Union (Figure 7).
- Abdul Sada al-Furaiji, head of al-Fadhila's political office, operating within the Coordination Framework.
- Abdul-Hussein Abtaan, former minister of youth and sports and a perennial wannabe prime minister who will no doubt throw his hat in the ring once again after this October's elections (Figure 8).
Militia Media and Social Media Figures
Several prominent media figures and social media influencers aligned with the militias attended and actively covered the event:
- Haider al-Barzanji
- Abbas al-Ardawi (a former KH parliamentary candidate who failed to secure a seat)
- Ahmed Abdul Sada
Representatives of Muqtada al-Sadr
Two key representatives from Sadr’s movement were in attendance:
- Mustafa al-Yaqubi
- Ahmed al-Mutairi (head of the Sadrist Political Bureau).
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