IDF Investigates Soldier Placing Cigarette in Virgin Mary Statue

Israel's military has opened an investigation into a photograph showing one of its soldiers placing a cigarette into the mouth of a Virgin Mary statue in the Christian-majority village of Debel in southern Lebanon. The image, taken several weeks ago and shared online on Wednesday, depicts the soldier smoking while committing the act.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it views the incident with utmost severity, describing the soldier's conduct as a complete deviation from its values. Officials emphasized respect for all holy sites and religious symbols, promising command measures following a formal probe. An initial inquiry confirmed the photo's location in Debel, near the Israeli border.

This marks the latest reported incident involving Israeli troops and religious sites in the village. Last month, video emerged showing soldiers damaging a statue of Jesus Christ there, including one using a sledgehammer on its face. The IDF responded by removing two soldiers from combat duty and sentencing them to 30 days in military jail.

Lebanese reports have also documented other damage in Debel, including the bulldozing of solar panels that power the village's water system, as well...