By Desmond Nleya
TEHRAN -More than 10 million mourners are expected to converge on Tehran on Saturday for the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in what authorities describe as one of the largest public gatherings in the country’s history.
Delegations and dignitaries from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the state funeral, underscoring Khamenei’s influence on regional and global affairs. The ceremony follows his death during the opening phase of the recent Iran-Israel conflict, in which he and several members of his family were killed in joint Israeli and U.S. airstrikes.
The capital has been transformed into a sea of black as thousands of mourners continue to arrive from across Iran, paying their final respects to the country’s longest-serving supreme leader. State media reported that religious ceremonies and public processions began ahead of the official funeral, with heightened security in place throughout the city.
Meanwhile, tensions across the Middle East remain high. Israel launched fresh airstrikes on multiple locations in southern Lebanon, saying the operations targeted Hezbollah military infrastructure and fighters. The strikes come despite a framework agreement reached with Lebanon last month aimed at ending hostilities along the border.
According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, Israeli military operations since March 2 have resulted in at least 4,301 deaths and 12,199 injuries, highlighting the devastating human cost of the conflict.
Violence has also continued in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli settlers reportedly carried out attacks against Palestinians in several areas, including Tubas, near Hebron, southeast of Bethlehem, and northeast of Ramallah.
The funeral of Ayatollah Khamenei is expected to draw global attention as Iran enters a new political chapter while regional conflicts continue to fuel instability across the Middle East.
