IDF Confirms Photo of Soldier with Jesus Statue in Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that a photo circulating online shows one of their soldiers holding a hammer above a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon. They promised that “appropriate action” would be taken against those involved.

This alarming image comes amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Recently, President Donald Trump had mentioned that a ceasefire was established to facilitate peace discussions. The IDF’s statement acknowledged the photo as depicting a soldier in southern Lebanon but didn’t confirm its authenticity or that it was medically examined.

The IDF seems to believe that the actions captured in the photo are inappropriate—either involving soldiers themselves or perhaps being staged to escalate tensions between Lebanese Christians and Israel. They referred to this situation as an “incident” and noted that efforts were underway to restore the statue. Moreover, they asserted that there were no indications the photo had been altered or generated using artificial intelligence.

Details about when the photo was taken remain unclear, and local Lebanese media were unable to verify the date. However, the Lebanese newspaper Lorient Today stated that the cross belongs to Dibil, a Christian village that has been caught in crossfire during the ongoing military action.

Since the onset of Operation Epic Fury, aimed at undermining Iran’s military threat, the IDF has intensified its operations in Lebanon. Although these efforts are not directly linked to conflicts involving Iran, Israeli officials claim that they are essential for dismantling a considerable terrorist network associated with Hezbollah in the region. This has led to thousands of residents fleeing northern Israel amid escalating conflicts following the Hamas invasion on October 7, 2023.

The United Nations recently reported that Israeli actions have displaced over one million people in Lebanon in just two months.

In their statement on Sunday, the IDF confirmed that the initial investigation revealed the soldier in the photo was operational in southern Lebanon. They stressed the severity of the incident, reinforcing that such actions contradict the values expected from their forces.

Investigations are currently ongoing through the chain of command, and appropriate measures will follow based on the findings. Additionally, the IDF committed to assisting in returning the statue to its rightful place.

The IDF shared the controversial image, which Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi had initially released online.

Lorient Today also noted that the image showed the statue already decapitated, raising further concerns about the situation. Local leader Akul Nadav confirmed the origin of the statue but mentioned that access to the area is restricted due to the Israeli military presence, complicating verification efforts.

According to Nadav, while the IDF occupied Dibil a few weeks back, it is challenging to ascertain when the desecration occurred without the military’s cooperation.

As of Thursday, President Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, with no reports of attacks from Lebanese forces. The conflict primarily involves Hezbollah and the IDF, which asserts that not enough is being done to disarm Hezbollah. Although Hezbollah remains the main target of the military action, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated plans to escalate demolitions of houses in certain villages to address the perceived threats to Israeli communities.

Trump has stated he forbade any further Israeli strikes during the ceasefire.

In response, Defense Minister Katz affirmed that Israel would not be withdrawing from areas where they have already compelled civilians to leave.