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The Israeli military has confirmed that a widely circulated photo showing a soldier destroying a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon is authentic and says disciplinary action will be taken.
The image, which spread quickly on social media over the weekend, shows a soldier using a sledgehammer to smash the statue in the Christian village of Debel, an area where Israeli forces have been operating amid fighting with Hezbollah.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the incident is being treated “with great seriousness,” and the soldier’s behaviour does not reflect the values expected of troops. The military said the matter will be handled through the chain of command and is now under investigation by its Northern Command.
Officials also said efforts will be made to help restore the damaged statue.
Lebanon |
— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) April 19, 2026
An Israeli soldier smashing the head of a Jesus Christ statue during operations in southern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/Sj1m16tj9q
The photo surfaced during a tense period following recent clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have carried out operations targeting the Iran-backed group. A ceasefire is currently in place, but tensions on the ground remain high.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar publicly condemned the incident, calling it unacceptable and apologizing to Christian communities. He said the act goes against Israel’s stated commitment to respect all religions and their holy sites.
The incident has added to already sensitive regional dynamics, especially around religious communities in Lebanon and Jerusalem. It also comes amid wider scrutiny of conduct by Israeli troops during recent military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, where there have been previous allegations involving property damage and misconduct.
For now, the military says it is moving quickly to investigate and deal with those responsible, while trying to contain the diplomatic fallout from an image that has already sparked anger well beyond the battlefield.
*Source: Times of Israel
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