Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, May 7: Israel has launched an investigation after a photograph showing an Israeli soldier allegedly desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon triggered widespread outrage online.
According to media reports, the incident took place in the Christian-majority village of Debel in southern Lebanon several weeks ago, though the image surfaced publicly only on Wednesday.
The photograph reportedly showed the soldier placing a cigarette in the mouth of the Virgin Mary statue while smoking another cigarette himself.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it viewed the incident seriously and confirmed that disciplinary action would be initiated against the soldier involved.
The controversy is the latest in a series of reported incidents involving damage to religious symbols and civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon amid escalating tensions between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.
Reports from Lebanese media claimed that another Israeli soldier had earlier vandalised a statue of Jesus in the same village. Local sources also alleged that infrastructure including homes, roads, olive trees and solar panels supplying electricity to water systems had been damaged during military operations.
Israeli forces have intensified strikes in parts of southern Lebanon and around Beirut, claiming that the operations target Hezbollah fighters and installations.
Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised over incidents involving Christian clergy and worshippers in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Religious groups have reported a rise in harassment and attacks targeting Christian pilgrims and residents.
One recent incident involved the assault of a French nun near Jerusalem’s Old City, following which Israeli police reportedly arrested a suspect after video footage of the attack surfaced online.
Following earlier criticism over the destruction of a statue of Jesus in Debel, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had condemned the act, while the soldiers involved were reportedly removed from combat duty and sentenced to jail terms.
The latest development comes amid continuing international scrutiny over the destruction of religious sites and civilian infrastructure during the ongoing conflict in the region.