Sheikh Muhammad al-Fu'ani, a Lebanese Shiite scholar and critic of Hezbollah who lives in exile, said in an interview broadcast Thursday on Israel's N12 News that Iran 'brainwashed' people into supporting Hezbollah, which he said 'has brought destruction to Lebanon, and made us the object of hatred and disgust.'
Lebanese Shiite scholar in exile says Iran 'brainwashed' people into supporting Hezbollah
Sheikh Muhammad al-Fu'ani, a Lebanese Shiite scholar and critic of Hezbollah who lives in exile, said in an interview broadcast Thursday on Israel's N12 News that Iran 'brainwashed' people into supporting Hezbollah, which he said 'has brought destruction to Lebanon, and made us the object of hatred and disgust.'
Fu'ani described Lebanon's Shia population as divided into two groups. The first, he said, consists of 'mercenaries' ready to 'abandon ship' once they see signs of the group's decline, saying 'for them it's nothing more than a business.' The second group, in his characterization, is being deceived — people Iran led 'to believe in a fantasy of religious domination in the region,' whom he called a 'scapegoat.'
He said of that second group: '[Iran] made them fight, made their children die. Their livelihoods were lost, their dreams shattered, and their memories forgotten,' adding that '[Iran] misled them.' He predicted that those who lost children hold a grudge against Hezbollah, and those who lost livelihoods are waiting for Iranian funding to run out before turning against the group.
On the question of Hezbollah's disarmament, Fu'ani cited the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad following what he described as President Ahmed al-Sharaa's successful overthrow, noting that 'the Radwan force, militias from Iraq, Assad's Syrian army, and all the mercenaries from Pakistan and Afghanistan, in one moment fled the holy places.' He said Hezbollah would similarly be forced to leave Lebanon.
Fu'ani addressed Israelis directly, saying 'originally there is no enmity between us and you' and urging the Israeli public to tell its government: 'We want good relations with the Lebanese people, and it is your responsibility to make this happen.' The Lebanese government has mandated the consolidation of arms in Lebanon, a measure Hezbollah has consistently rejected, according to the source.
US-mediated direct talks between Israel and Lebanon have been held several times in 2026, described by the source as the first face-to-face meetings between representatives of the two countries in decades. The discussions have covered topics including Hezbollah's future disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal from positions in southern Lebanon, with the next round expected in September.
- The source does not state Hezbollah's response or reaction to Fu'ani's remarks.
- The source does not state Iran's response to Fu'ani's characterization of its role.
- The source does not identify the specific country or location of Fu'ani's exile.
- The source does not provide independent verification of Fu'ani's claims about the composition or sentiments of Lebanon's Shia population.
- The source does not state the dates on which Israel-Lebanon direct talks were held in 2026, nor the specific topics on which progress was or was not made.
- The source does not state what positions Israel currently holds in southern Lebanon or how many troops are involved.
Read the original at The Jerusalem Post