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IDF Confirms Soldier Damaged Jesus Statue in Lebanese Christian Village, Launches Investigation and Offers Restoration
An Israeli soldier destroyed a statue of Jesus in the Christian village of Debel, southern Lebanon, on April 19, 2026, according to verified footage. The IDF confirmed the incident, opened an investigation, and pledged to restore the statue. A separate cross in the village was also destroyed, with conflicting accounts on its replacement.
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IDF Spokesperson's Unit photographer / Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)Audio version
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An IDF soldier smashed a statue of Jesus in Debel, a Christian village in southern Lebanon, on April 19, 2026. The incident was captured in footage that went viral, as reported by @MarioNawfal. Local reports detailed the soldier using a sledgehammer in the village setting.
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The IDF confirmed the authenticity of the footage showing the soldier smashing the statue. The military described the soldier's conduct as wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops. The IDF opened an investigation into the soldier's actions.
The IDF pledged to help restore the statue. This response came amid broader context of the incident occurring in Debel, a Christian village in southern Lebanon. com. A Christian cross standing in Debel, southern Lebanon, was destroyed by IDF forces, according to local witnesses.
The Israeli military claimed it helped replace the monument in Debel. Residents of Debel insist Italian UNIFIL peacekeepers restored the monument.
