Adedokun Waliyu 
The Israeli military has sentenced two soldiers to prison following an incident involving the desecration of a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), one soldier was sentenced to 21 days in military prison after being photographed placing a cigarette in the mouth of the statue, while another soldier who filmed the act received a 14-day prison sentence.
The image, which circulated widely online last week, showed the soldier posing with his arm around the statue of the mother of Jesus Christ while holding a cigarette to her mouth, sparking outrage across religious and international communities.
The military said the incident occurred several weeks ago in southern Lebanon and was later investigated by commanders on the ground.
In a statement, IDF spokeswoman Ariella Mazor condemned the soldiers’ actions, stressing that the behaviour violated the standards and values expected of Israeli military personnel.
“The IDF views the incident with utmost severity,” Mazor stated, adding that the military respects freedom of religion, places of worship, and religious symbols of all faiths.
The development comes amid growing criticism of the conduct of some Israeli soldiers toward Christian religious symbols in southern Lebanon.
In a separate incident in late April, the Israeli military reportedly punished two other soldiers with 30 days of military detention and removed them from combat duty after a video surfaced showing a soldier striking a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer in the Lebanese village of Debl.
The military reiterated that it has “no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or religious symbols.”
The incidents have drawn renewed attention to tensions surrounding military operations in southern Lebanon, where clashes involving Hezbollah and Israeli forces have continued despite ceasefire efforts.
Religious leaders and observers have continued to call for greater respect for sacred sites and symbols amid ongoing regional conflicts involving Israel, Lebanon, and Iran.
