Israeli military sentences 2 soldiers over desecration of Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon

The Israeli military on Monday sentenced two soldiers to military prison terms over the desecration of a Christian statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon, an incident that circulated widely online and triggered condemnation. According to the Israel Defense Forces, one soldier was jailed for 21 days for placing a cigarette in the statue’s mouth, while the other serviceman, who filmed the act, received a 14-day sentence.

The IDF said the episode occurred several weeks earlier in the predominantly Christian village of Debel, near the Israeli border. The images, which were shared more widely in recent days, showed the soldier posing with the statue. In a statement posted on X, Lieutenant Colonel Ariella Mazor said the IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasized that the conduct “completely deviates from the values expected of its personnel.” She also said procedures regarding behavior around religious institutions and religious symbols are routinely reinforced to troops prior to entering relevant areas.

The sentencing came amid heightened scrutiny of military conduct toward religious sites in the region. Last month, the IDF said two soldiers had been removed...