The Israel Defense Forces has confirmed that a viral image showing one of its soldiers striking a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon is authentic, vowing to take disciplinary action.
The military disclosed this in a statement issued early after the image circulated widely on social media, sparking outrage.
According to the army, preliminary findings showed that the photograph indeed captured one of its personnel during an operation in southern Lebanon.
“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 statement read.
The incident was said to have occurred in Debel, a predominantly Christian community where Israeli forces had previously conducted operations against Hezbollah fighters.
The military said the case was under investigation by its Northern Command, adding that appropriate sanctions would be imposed based on the outcome.
It also noted that steps would be taken to repair the damaged statue as part of efforts to address the situation.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, condemned the act, describing it as disgraceful and inconsistent with the country’s values.
Sa’ar also apologised to the Christian community, assuring that those responsible would be held accountable.
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