Iran holds massive multi-day funeral for late Supreme Leader Khamenei as Gaza and Ebola crises worsen elsewhere

Iran began a dayslong funeral process for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday, with authorities and media describing a turnout in the hundreds of thousands as mourners moved through Tehran as part of a multi-day ceremony. PBS NewsHour reported that the procession drew what it characterized as an enormous crowd, and that the event follows earlier funeral ceremonies for Khamenei in the capital.

Additional reporting from PBS described the funeral sequence as unfolding over several days, starting with ceremonies at the Grand Mosalla Mosque and then shifting to public processions. The PBS account said the procession route included a move from Revolution Square toward Azadi Square, with attendees wearing black and chanting. Reuters reported separately that the supreme leader’s death, which ended decades of rule, came in February during the first airstrike of the U.S. and Israel war.

The funeral is unfolding amid uncertainty inside Iran’s leadership structure. PBS reported that Iran’s top officials and the brothers of the new supreme leader appeared publicly for prayers, while the new supreme leader himself remained in hiding. The sequence of ceremonies and public appearances is expected to continue across multiple Iranian cities before burial, according to the broader coverage summarized by PBS, while security preparations reflect the scale of the gathering.

In Gaza, PBS NewsHour reported that Hamas has dissolved its government in the territory as it prepares for a transfer of power. The announcement was framed as part of an internal political transition, coming as the region remains under intense strain from the continuing conflict and disruption to basic services.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, officials said more than 500 people have died in an ongoing Ebola outbreak. PBS NewsHour said the death toll has continued to rise, underscoring the public-health challenge facing provinces where health systems are already strained by insecurity and logistical constraints.

Cuba also reported disruptions that highlight ongoing pressure on infrastructure and household stability. PBS NewsHour said the island was hit by a blackout as it struggles with an ongoing energy crisis, an issue that has periodically forced power rationing and worsened the daily impact on residents and businesses.