Lebanon is preparing for the burial of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, nearly five months after he was killed in an Israeli air strike.
The country is expected to come to a halt for a few hours on Sunday for the funeral which is scheduled for 1pm (11:00 GMT) at the Camille Chamoun sports stadium on the outskirts of capital Beirut.
He will then be buried at a dedicated site nearby.
Nasrallah was temporarily buried next to his son, Hadi, who died fighting for Hezbollah in 1997.
The Lebanese group has announced strict security measures and urged security forces to help manage crowds that are expected to number in the tens of thousands, with people pouring in from Hezbollah strongholds across the country as well as from abroad.
Civil aviation authorities said Beirut airport will close exceptionally and flights will be suspended from midday until 4pm (14:00 GMT).
Nasrallah was killed on September 27 in an Israeli air strike as he met commanders in a bunker in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Revered by Hezbollah supporters, Nasrallah led the group through decades of conflict with Israel, overseeing a transformation into a military force with regional sway and becoming one of the most prominent Arab figures in generations.
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