Israel’s military has launched an investigation after a photo circulated online showing a soldier desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon.
The military said on Wednesday that it viewed the “incident gravely” and promised action against the soldier, according to The Times of Israel.
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The outlet said an initial inquiry had found that the photo was taken in the Christian-majority village of Debel several weeks ago, though it was only shared online on Wednesday.
The photo showed the soldier placing a cigarette into the mouth of the statue while smoking one himself.
It is the latest in a series of incidents involving Israeli soldiers desecrating religious sites and destroying or looting property in southern Lebanon.
Last month, another soldier was photographed damaging a statue of Jesus in the same village. According to Lebanese media, Israeli troops have also bulldozed solar panels in Debel that supply the electricity needed for the town’s water system, and destroyed homes, roads and olive trees.
The incidents come as Israeli forces step up attacks on Lebanon, including the capital, Beirut, claiming they are striking Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure. Israeli forces also continue to occupy large areas of southern Lebanon and demolish entire villages in the area.
The scale of destruction has left Lebanese officials and residents increasingly worried that those displaced by the war will have nowhere to return to.
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