IDF Promises Review as Soldier Photographed Disrespecting Statue of Virgin Mary - News From Antiwar.com
The army said the image is under review as Lebanese media showed a soldier placing a cigarette in the statue’s mouth.
- On Wednesday, KAN News reported a photo showing an IDF soldier smoking while placing a cigarette in the mouth of a Virgin Mary statue in Debel, Lebanon, marking fresh scrutiny of the military's conduct toward the Christian community.
- This incident follows an April 19, 2026, controversy in the same village of Debel, where images emerged of an IDF soldier smashing a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer, sparking widespread condemnation from Christian groups.
- In response to the earlier incident, the IDF removed two soldiers from combat roles and sentenced them to 30 days in military prison, while six others were summoned for disciplinary talks.
- Frid Jubran, spokesman for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, told media the footage was "sad, outrageous and very upsetting," stating the actions showed deep contempt and humiliation toward the Christian faith.
- While the IDF maintains it targets only Hezbollah rather than civilian or religious sites, these incidents have fueled claims that Israel harms religious freedom, and the military said the recent photo is being "looked into.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Israeli soldier mocks Virgin Mary statue in southern Lebanon
An Israeli soldier has been pictured desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon in the latest attack on Christian religious symbols. The photo shows an Israeli soldier, with a cigarette in his own mouth, placing a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in Debl, a Christian border village in the Bint Jbeil district. According to Israeli media, the photo was taken "weeks ago" but only went viral earlier this week. I…
Israeli army probe soldier seen desecrating Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon
The Israeli military said Thursday it would investigate after a soldier was photographed placing a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. An image appearing to show an Israeli soldier with his arm around the revered Christian figure and holding a cigarette up to her mouth was widely shared on social media on Wednesday. When asked for its response to the image, the Israeli military said it “views the incident w…
In a Christian village in southern Lebanon, the destruction of a Jesus figure by an Israeli soldier causes a stir. The Israeli army apologizes. This seems to have not made some soldiers more careful. Again, a explosive photo becomes public.
There is a new case of alleged desecration of religious symbols by Israeli soldiers in Lebanon. A soldier was photographed putting a cigarette in the mouth of the statue of the Virgin Mary.
New incident after the video in which an Israeli soldier appeared to destroy a statue of Christ located in the town square of Ai Embel in southern Lebanon
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