Large crowds have gathered for the funeral of Hezbollah’s former leader, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Beirut in September.

Mourners dressed in black flocked to a stadium on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital on Sunday. They also paid their respects to Nasrallah’s successor, who was killed in a similar Israeli strike before he could assume his post.

Nasrallah, the former leader of the Lebanese militant Shia Islamist group, was one of the most influential figures in the Middle East.

Hours before the funeral, Israel launched air strikes in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers.

Pictures of Hezbollah leaders were prominently displayed. The Camille Chamoun Sports City stadium, with a capacity of almost 50, 000, was nearly full hours before the ceremony began.

Under Nasrallah’s 30-year leadership, Hezbollah – banned as a terrorist organisation in the UK, US, and other countries – trained fighters and obtained missiles from Iran for use against Israel.

Nasrallah’s coffin was paraded through huge crowds of black-clad mourners, many of whom waved flags or held portraits of him.

The mass funeral is a show of strength for Hezbollah, which suffered major setbacks during Israel’s campaign in Lebanon last year. Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, warned that Israeli planes were flying over the stadium to “convey a clear message” to those who threaten Israel. Dozens of Hezbollah’s senior figures were killed during the conflict, leading to a huge loss of life and displacement in Lebanon before a ceasefire was struck in November. Representatives from Iran, Iraq, and Yemen are expected to attend the funeral.