Israeli troops get prison for desecration of Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon
NBC News • • world
Key Points:
- Two Israeli soldiers were sentenced to military prison for desecrating a Christian statue in southern Lebanon, with one placing a cigarette in the Virgin Mary statue's mouth and the other photographing it, sparking widespread outrage.
- The Israeli military condemned the incident, emphasizing respect for religious symbols and freedom of worship, and issued 21 and 14-day prison terms for the soldiers involved.
- This act followed a similar incident involving an Israeli soldier damaging a statue of Jesus, which also led to military prison sentences and international condemnation.
- Israeli forces have maintained control in southern Lebanon following the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict, despite a fragile truce, raising concerns about displacement and destruction in the region.
- The Israeli military reported the death of a soldier near the border, marking the 18th casualty since the conflict with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group began.