IDF admits photo of Israeli soldier smashing statue of Our Lord is real

[Stone]

IDF admits photo of Israeli soldier smashing statue of Our Lord is real
A photo of an Israeli soldier smashing the head of a statue of the crucified Jesus in Lebanon has gone viral, leading to outrage among Christians.



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Apr 20, 2026
(LifeSiteNews) — The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that a photograph of an IDF soldier smashing the head of a statue of Jesus Christ is authentic and announced an investigation into the matter.

Over the weekend, a photo of an Israeli soldier smashing the head of a statue of the crucified Jesus in Lebanon went viral online and led to outrage among Christians. On Sunday, the IDF confirmed the picture was authentic and said, “Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings.”

“Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon,” the statement by the IDF reads.

“The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasizes that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops. The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and is currently being addressed through the chain of command.”

“Furthermore, the IDF is working to assist the community in restoring the statue to its place. The IDF is operating to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure established by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and has no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or religious symbols,” the IDF concluded.

According to the Times of Israel, the photo was taken in the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the smashing of the statue a “shameful action” and offered an apology to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.

On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also published a statement on the matter, writing on X, “Yesterday, like the overwhelming majority of Israelis, I was stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon. I condemn the act in the strongest terms. Military authorities are conducting a criminal probe of the matter and will take appropriately harsh disciplinary action against the offender.”

“While Christians are being slaughtered in Syria and Lebanon by Muslims, the Christian population in Israel thrives unlike elsewhere in the Middle East,” he continued.

“Israel is the only country in the region that the Christian population and standard of living is growing. Israel is the only place in the Middle East that adheres to freedom of worship for all. We express regret for the incident and for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world,” Netanyahu said.

Israel has increased its military attacks in Lebanon against Hezbollah since the start of the Iran war in late February, including hundreds to thousands of airstrikes. These strikes have killed at least 1,500 people (combatants and civilians), injured thousands more, and displaced over one million people. Many civilians, including Christians, have chosen to stay in their homes despite the risks, for fear of Islamic militants taking over their property once they leave.