On 1/5, Lebanese television channel LBCI posted a controversial video depicting Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem and members of the armed group as characters from the popular 'angry birds' video game. The animated segment showed them as birds clashing with green pigs, which were depicted as Israeli forces. This move immediately drew fierce criticism, particularly from Hezbollah supporters on social media, who condemned it as mocking Qassem, a prominent Shiite Muslim cleric.

Hezbollah swiftly condemned the video on 2/5, stating it contained "insulting, cheap rhetoric, dragging political discourse to an abhorrent level." The group urged its supporters "not to fall into a controversy staged by forces opposing the resistance movement." Following a summons from Lebanese judicial authorities, LBCI removed the video on 2/5.

A woman holds photos of Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem (left) and the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament during a protest in Beirut on 30/4. Photo: AFP

The controversial video also drew condemnation from high-ranking Lebanese officials. On 2/5, President Joseph Aoun denounced "all acts of aggression targeting Muslim and Catholic leaders, as well as influential spiritual leaders in Lebanon." He called for public restraint, warning that personal insults could lead to negative consequences. Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, echoed these sentiments, condemning "campaigns of insult and aggression targeting religious and national symbols, regardless of their origin or form, whether in media or cyberspace."

LBCI was established in the 1980s by the Lebanese Forces, a Christian political party historically opposed to Hezbollah. However, LBCI separated from the Lebanese Forces many years ago, subsequently establishing itself as an independent media organization.

Lebanon was drawn into the broader Middle East conflict on 2/3 after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israeli territory. This action was taken in retaliation for the alleged US-Israel assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Tel Aviv deployed troops into Lebanon and conducted large-scale airstrikes in the neighboring country. According to Lebanese officials, the conflict has resulted in over 2,600 deaths. Despite a ceasefire agreement reached on 17/4, clashes between Hezbollah and Israel persist.