Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc leader in Lebanon, Mohammad Raad, sparked controversy on social media when he called some Lebanese citizens "reckless" for "going to the beach and nightclubs while the south is under attack," harming the country's interests.
His remarks drew sharp criticism from Lebanese citizens, who expressed their right to enjoy recreational activities despite the country's hardships, including an ongoing political and economic crisis and the 2020 Beirut port explosion. Many citizens stated they did not ask Hezbollah, supported by Iran, to start a war in southern Lebanon on their behalf.
Lebanon's Al-Jadeed network aired Raad's remarks on its X channel, prompting swift online reactions. "Yes, we want to go to amusement parks and the beach. We do not want to hear sounds of fighter jets in the sky because it ruins our mood," one user wrote. Others echoed this sentiment, with comments like "Life lovers are against Raad."
A user commented: "Parliament member Raad condemns people who visit beaches and amusement parks for supposedly ruining the country. Lebanon is an ethnically diverse country, and we strongly reject any attempt to turn it into an Islamic republic. We condemn Iranian meddling."
Lebanese journalist Nasreen Mraib criticized Raad on a Lebanese website: "Is it new for Hezbollah supporters to reject the culture of life? Is it new for them to demonize everything that is not like them? Hezbollah has never been Lebanese. The organization has an Iranian culture that opposes every aspect of life and imposes its ideology on the environment."
Mocking comments also surfaced on social media. One user posted a video of someone on a water slide with the caption: "Lebanese after hearing Mohammad Raad." Another noted that she is drinking at home because "Mohammad Raad doesn't like outings."
Raad's son, Abbas Raad, a Hezbollah operative, was killed in an Israeli attack in November. Since then, Raad has been vocal against Israel at various events.