According to a report by The Times of Israel, a soldier who was photographed placing a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon will face disciplinary action, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said, describing the act as a serious breach of expected conduct.
The image, which surfaced online, shows the soldier interacting inappropriately with the religious statue in the Christian village of Debel. The military confirmed the authenticity of the incident following a query and said it had already launched an initial inquiry into the matter.
According to the IDF, the photograph was taken several weeks ago but only came to public attention recently after being circulated online. The military noted that the same village had been the site of a separate incident last month in which another soldier smashed a statue of Jesus, further heightening concerns over the conduct of troops in the area.
In its response, the IDF stressed that it views the latest incident with gravity, stating that the soldier’s actions “completely deviates from the values expected of its troops.” The military reiterated its commitment to maintaining discipline and upholding standards among its personnel, particularly in sensitive environments involving civilian populations and religious landmarks.
The IDF confirmed that a full investigation into the matter will be carried out. It added that command-level measures would be taken against the soldier involved, in accordance with the findings of the inquiry.
Emphasizing its official stance, the military said it respects freedom of religion and worship, along with holy sites and religious symbols belonging to all communities. It further stated that it has no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or symbols, amid its ongoing operations against Hezbollah.
The incident has drawn attention due to the symbolic nature of the act and its location within a Christian village. The IDF’s acknowledgment and response underline its effort to address the situation internally while reaffirming its stated values regarding religious respect and conduct during military operations.
