Two Israeli soldiers are facing time in military prison for disrespecting a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. One soldier placed a cigarette in the statue’s mouth while the other took a photo, which quickly circulated online and caused widespread anger.
This incident is part of a series of actions by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon that have been criticized as anti-Christian. Earlier this year, Israel conducted a ground invasion in the region targeting the Hezbollah militant group, backed by Iran.
The soldier who posed with the statue will serve 21 days in military prison, while the soldier who took the photo will serve 14 days. The Israeli military emphasized its commitment to respecting freedom of religion, worship, and religious symbols of all faiths.
This controversy emerged shortly after images surfaced of an Israeli soldier damaging a fallen statue of Jesus in a Lebanese village, a move that drew condemnation from Christian leaders and Israeli officials. The soldiers involved in both incidents have been sentenced to time in military confinement.
Following the Israel-Hezbollah conflict that began in March, Israeli forces have maintained control in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire. Tragically, a soldier working as a driver was recently killed in combat near the border, marking the 18th casualty in the area since the conflict with Iran started.
Israel’s military clarified that its operations target locations previously used by the Iran-backed militant group and expressed concerns about the displacement caused by the conflict. Lebanese officials and residents fear that many displaced individuals may struggle to return to their homes if the fragile peace agreement holds.
