Israeli military says soldier seen damaging Jesus statue in Lebanon was IDF member

Israel’s military said a soldier seen in a widely shared photo damaging a Christian symbol in southern Lebanon was an Israeli serviceman and that the incident would be investigated. The military said the conduct was “completely contrary” to the values expected of its troops.

The image, circulated on social media, appeared to show a soldier striking a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in the Christian village of Dibil in southern Lebanon. Media reports said the army had also pledged to take disciplinary action and help restore the damaged shrine.