The Israeli military opened an investigation after a photo showed one of its soldiers desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. The image, which circulated widely on social media, sparked condemnation from Christian communities and others.
Israeli army officials confirmed the probe on Wednesday. They identified the soldier involved and stated they viewed the incident with gravity. The military promised to take command measures against the soldier based on the findings.
The photo captured the soldier in Debel, a predominantly Christian village near the Israel-Lebanon border. He placed a cigarette in the mouth of the Virgin Mary statue while he smoked another. The statue stands outside a graveyard. Reports indicated the image was taken during Israeli operations against Hezbollah several weeks earlier.
This event followed a similar incident in the same village last month. In April, soldiers damaged a statue of Jesus on a cross. Israeli authorities investigated that case too. They sentenced involved soldiers to jail time and offered to restore the statue.
The Israeli Defense Forces issued a statement after the latest photo surfaced. Spokespersons emphasized that the soldier’s conduct deviated from the values expected of troops. They added that the army respects the religious symbols of all faiths.
Local residents in Debel expressed distress over repeated damage to Christian symbols during the conflict. Church leaders and rights groups called for accountability. They noted the incidents added to tensions in areas with Christian populations.
The Israeli military continued operations in southern Lebanon as the investigation proceeded. Officials said they worked to address concerns from affected communities.
