Two Israeli soldiers are facing time in military prison for disrespecting a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. One soldier placed a cigarette in the statue’s mouth while the other took a photo, which caused public outrage when it went viral.
This incident is the latest in a series of actions by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon that have been criticized as anti-Christian. Israel had conducted a ground invasion earlier in the year to target the Hezbollah militant group backed by Iran.
The Israeli military has announced that the soldier who posed in the photo will serve 21 days in military prison, while the soldier who took the picture will serve 14 days. The military spokesperson emphasized that they value freedom of religion and respect holy sites and symbols of all faiths.
The photo circulated shortly after images of an Israeli soldier damaging a fallen statue of Jesus in a village in southern Lebanon were condemned by Christian leaders and politicians. The soldiers involved in that incident were also sentenced to time in military prison.
Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon stems from the recent conflict with Hezbollah, which began in March. Despite a ceasefire, Israeli forces remain in the area. Additionally, a soldier working as a driver was killed in combat near the border, marking the 18th casualty since the conflict with Iran started.
The Israeli military clarifies that they only target buildings used by the Iran-backed militant group and not civilian areas. The destruction caused by the conflict has raised concerns among Lebanese officials and residents about the displacement of people and the lack of housing options if the ceasefire continues.
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