#Lebanon – A photograph of an Israeli soldier in a Christian village in South Lebanon destroying a statue of Jesus Christ has circulated through social media, going viral and resulted in widespread condemnation from the public. The Israeli Defence Force later verified the image and stated that they would follow up on the incident.
The sculpture in its original state (left) and the full image (right) that had gone viral with an Israeli soldier destroying the sculpture after it had been torn down.
The photo shows an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to smash the head of a Jesus statue, which appears mounted on or set against a pole/cross. The statue was located in the southern Lebanese town/village of Deir Siryan. This village is in a region with Maronite Christian communities, close to the Israel-Lebanon border.
The image went viral on social media, sparking outrage, especially among Christian communities, with millions of views. It depicts the soldier actively destroying the head/upper part of the religious statue during operations in southern Lebanon.
The IDF quickly confirmed the photo’s authenticity after an initial examination. Their statement emphasized the incident involves an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon and they view it with great severity. An investigation is underway by the Northern Command, to be handled through the chain of command, with “appropriate measures” taken based on findings. The IDF has indicated it will help restore the statue.
This event occurred amid ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon following a ground invasion, where Israel maintains a presence in some areas despite a prior ceasefire. The widespread regional conflict in the Middle East involving Israel has been under public scrutiny with increasing pressure since the start of the Iran War, and further aggravated with the invasion of Lebanon. This event has further agitated observers and critics of the war in the Middle East.
