An Israeli soldier has been seen desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon, according to footage circulating online.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, on Wednesday, the footage — believed to have been filmed and posted online by soldiers — shows an Israeli soldier “smoking a cigarette while placing another cigarette in the mouth of the Virgin Mary statue.”
Series of attacks targeting Christians
The broadcaster said the military confirmed that “the matter is under review.”
The incident comes amid a series of reported attacks and violations involving Christian religious symbols and sites in Christian-majority towns occupied by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, drawing criticism of Israel in Christian communities worldwide.
