Two Israeli soldiers have been sentenced to military detention after a photo surfaced showing one of them embracing a statue of the Virgin Mary in the Lebanese village of Debel and placing a cigarette in the figure’s mouth. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that the soldier who posed with the statue received a 21‑day prison term, while the serviceman who recorded the incident was sentenced to 14 days.
The image, which quickly spread on social media, sparked condemnation from the local Christian community and prompted an official investigation. IDF spokeswoman Ariella Mazor said the force “views the incident with great severity and respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities.” She posted the statement on the military’s X account.
The disciplinary action follows a similar case that unfolded last month in the same village. Two other soldiers were removed from combat duties and each sentenced to 30 days in military prison after one of them smashed the head of a statue of Jesus Christ with a hammer while a fellow soldier photographed the act. Six additional troops who were present but did not intervene or report the episode were summoned for further clarification.
These incidents occur against a backdrop of heightened tensions along Israel’s northern border. The IDF expanded its operations in southern Lebanon in early March after Hezbollah launched rockets in solidarity with Iran. Although a cease‑fire between Israel and the Lebanese government took effect on 16 April, sporadic clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah have continued.
Christian communities in the region have raised concerns about repeated infringements on their religious sites. In 2023, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza struck a building adjacent to the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, the enclave’s oldest Christian shrine, killing at least 18 people. More recently, in 2025, shrapnel from an Israeli tank hit Gaza’s Holy Family Church, the territory’s sole Catholic parish, resulting in three deaths.
The IDF’s swift disciplinary response underscores the military’s official stance on protecting religious symbols, even as it navigates ongoing hostilities with Hezbollah. Observers note that the punishments, while relatively modest in duration, signal an attempt to mitigate diplomatic fallout and address the grievances of Lebanon’s Christian minority. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected as both sides continue to manage the volatile security environment along the
