IDF soldier seen placing cigarette in Virgin Mary statue's mouth in Lebanese village
The Times of Israel • • world
Key Points:
- An IDF soldier was photographed placing a cigarette in the mouth of a Virgin Mary statue in the Christian village of Debel, southern Lebanon, prompting the Israel Defense Forces to announce disciplinary action against him.
- The IDF condemned the soldier's behavior as a serious deviation from expected military values and stated that the incident will be investigated with appropriate command measures to follow.
- This incident follows previous cases in Debel where Israeli soldiers vandalized religious symbols and damaged civilian infrastructure, leading to punishments and ongoing investigations.
- The IDF emphasized its respect for religious freedom and holy sites amid its operations against Hezbollah, despite recent controversies that have strained Israel's relations with Christian communities.
- The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began in early March, entered a fragile ceasefire in mid-April but has since seen a decline in hostilities, with the IDF limiting its military actions in Lebanon.
