Jerusalem, ISRAEL — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday, that troops have replaced the statue of Jesus Christ that was damaged by a soldier in the southern Lebanese village of Debel. The swift action follows a wave of international condemnation after a video of the incident surfaced over the weekend.
In an official statement, the IDF confirmed that the Northern Command worked in “full coordination” with the local community of Debel to facilitate the replacement immediately after the report was received.
Okay News reports that the military has expressed “deep regret” over the original act of destruction, which involved a soldier striking the head of a fallen crucifix with a sledgehammer.
The IDF reiterated that the behavior exhibited by the soldier was inconsistent with military values and that an investigation into the matter is ongoing. The replacement of the religious icon is seen as a strategic move to de-escalate tensions with Lebanon’s Maronite Christian community, particularly as a fragile ceasefire remains in place.
Local officials in Debel confirmed the arrival of the new statue and the presence of IDF units during the installation. The military emphasized that it is taking internal measures to ensure such incidents do not recur, as the region remains under close international scrutiny during the dismantling of Hezbollah infrastructure in border villages.
While the replacement has been completed, the Israeli Foreign Ministry continues to engage with diplomatic and religious leaders to mitigate the fallout. The incident had threatened to overshadow the broader security objectives of the Northern Command and drew public apologies from senior Israeli officials earlier this week.
