The Israeli military is investigating a soldier after a photo emerged showing him desecrating a Virgin Mary statue in South Lebanon by placing a cigarette in its mouth. The IDF stated the soldier would be disciplined.

The Israeli military says it has launched an investigation after a photo showing one of its soldiers desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in South Lebanon went viral, as he placed a cigarette into the statue's mouth whilst smoking. The IDF said it "respects freedom of religion" and that the soldier will be disciplined. The incident took place Debel, in the same village where last month, an Israeli soldier was filmed smashing a Jesus statue with a sledgehammer.