Lebanon, April,19 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed that a widely circulated image showing one of its soldiers damaging a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon is authentic, and said the incident is being taken seriously.
In a statement, the military acknowledged the incident and indicated that disciplinary action would be taken following an internal review.
Officials stressed that such behaviour does not align with the standards expected from its personnel.The image, which spread quickly across social media, has drawn significant attention due to its religious sensitivity and the broader tensions in the region.
The incident is believed to have taken place in a predominantly Christian area in southern Lebanon.While the IDF has not released detailed information about the circumstances or the identity of the individual involved, it has assured that the matter is under examination.
The development has added to ongoing concerns about conduct in conflict zones, particularly where cultural and religious sites are involved.
Authorities are expected to take appropriate action once the review process is complete.