Kashmiris protest assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah

Protests erupted across Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on Saturday after the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was confirmed.

The Lebanese leader, who led Hezbollah for over three decades, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday.

Hundreds of demonstrators, including women and children, took to the streets holding portraits of Nasrallah and chanting slogans against Israel and the United States.

The protests, which were largely peaceful, saw participants waving black flags in mourning and solidarity with the people of Palestine and Lebanon.

In Srinagar and the nearby Budgam district, protesters raised slogans condemning the airstrike.

Long traffic jams were reported in areas such as Hassanabad, Rainawari, and Hazratbal as people gathered in large numbers.

Local authorities deployed police to maintain order, and no incidents of violence were reported.

Several political leaders in the region expressed grief over Nasrallah’s death, with some canceling their election campaigns in protest. Mehbooba Mufti, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), announced the suspension of her campaign on X (formerly Twitter).

“Cancelling my campaign tomorrow in solidarity with the martyrs of Lebanon & Gaza especially Hassan Nasrallah. We stand with the people of Palestine & Lebanon in this hour of immense grief & exemplary resistance,” Mufti wrote.

Aga Syed Ruhullah, a National Conference lawmaker who was canvassing for candidates in the region, also suspended his election activities as a "mark of protest."

Both leaders were campaigning ahead of the local legislative assembly elections, the first to be held in the region since 2014.

The elections are scheduled to take place in north Kashmir on October 1, with Sunday marking the final day of campaigning for the 16 seats up for grabs.

Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah's death in a statement released on Saturday, saying that their leader "has joined his fellow martyrs" and vowed to continue their resistance against Israel.

The group emphasized their commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause and declared that the fight would persist despite the loss of Nasrallah.

Nasrallah, known for his firm stance against Israeli aggression and US influence in the region, was a key figure in the Lebanese-based militant group Hezbollah, which has long been engaged in conflict with Israel.

His assassination is expected to have significant repercussions across the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, where Hezbollah plays a powerful political and military role.

The protests in Kashmir reflect the widespread reverence Nasrallah commanded among Shia communities globally, as well as the deep-rooted solidarity in the region with the Palestinian cause and opposition to Israeli policies.

With tensions already high due to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, Nasrallah’s death has further fueled anger and discontent, prompting demonstrations far beyond the Middle East.