Israel Defense Forces investigate incident of soldiers desecrating a Christian shrine in southern Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has launched a formal investigation into a soldier who damaged a statue of Jesus Christ in the Lebanese village of Debel. The incident drew sharp condemnation from both local authorities and Israeli commanders, who promised to restore the shrine and bring the perpetrators to justice amid ongoing tensions in the region.

According to Glavkom with reference to CNN, the reason for the proceedings was a photo from the village of Debel, which shows a soldier hitting the figure of the crucified Jesus Christ removed from the cross with a sledgehammer. The village, which is predominantly Christian, is currently under the control of Israeli forces. Local authorities called the incident a «shameful act» that deeply offends the religious feelings of believers and is a direct attack on sacred beliefs.

The IDF Command has officially stated that such behavior is completely contrary to the army’s values. The Northern Command statement emphasized the Israeli side’s readiness to assist the community in restoring the damaged statue. At the same time, fighting in the area continues as Israeli forces seek to eliminate Hezbollah strongholds near the neighboring town of Bint Jebeil.

The situation remains volatile amid the current 10-day ceasefire. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem emphasized that the militants have no intention of disarming and are demanding the full withdrawal of IDF units from Lebanese territory. Despite the formal truce, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported one death in an Israeli strike in the town of Qunin, underscoring the fragility of the agreements reached.