Hezbollah has publicly rebuked a Lebanese television outlet for airing a satirical video that portrayed the group’s leaders and fighters as characters from the mobile game Angry Birds. The clip showed leader Naim Qassem, depicted as a bird, addressing fighters battling the Israeli army, represented as green pigs. Hezbollah described the segment as offensive and accused it of lowering political discourse to a repulsive level.

Supporters of the group reacted angrily on social media, condemning what they saw as ridicule of Qassem, who is also a Shia cleric. Some responded by sharing posts insulting Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, the most senior Christian religious authority in Lebanon. Hezbollah urged its followers not to be drawn into what it called a controversy orchestrated by enemies.

President Joseph Aoun condemned attacks on both Christian and Muslim religious figures and called on the public to avoid personal insults, stressing the need for national solidarity during a difficult period for the country. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Lebanon, where relative freedom of expression often clashes with sensitivities surrounding political and religious leaders.