# Additional Sources Found - Updated Timeline **Case ID:** idf-jesus-statue-deir-siryan-2026-04-19 **Updated:** April 20, 2026 --- ## **MAJOR UPDATE: IDF CONFIRMS AUTHENTICITY** ### **Times of Israel - Follow-up Article (April 20, 2026, 00:21 Israel time)** **URL:** https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-image-of-soldier-destroying-jesus-statue-in-lebanon-is-real-vows-action/ **Author:** Emanuel Fabian **Time:** April 20, 2026, 12:21 am (Israel time = 21:21 UTC / April 19) **Beirut Time:** April 20, ~00:21 **Key Statement:** > "The Israel Defense Forces confirms the authenticity of a photo showing a soldier in southern Lebanon smashing a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer, and says it will take action against those involved." **Full IDF Statement:** - "It was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon." - "The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasizes that the soldier's conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops." - "The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and is being handled 'through the chain of command.'" - "Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings." - **Restoration:** "The Northern Command will also assist the Christian community in restoring the statue to its place." **Status:** ⭐ **BREAKING - IDF confirms image is authentic, vows action and restoration** --- ## **INTERNATIONAL NEWS AGENCIES** ### **AFP (Agence France-Presse)** **URL:** https://www.spacewar.com/afp/260419180647.90a0i5wb.html **Published:** April 19, 2026 (Jerusalem time) **Time:** Jerusalem ~18:00 (15:00 UTC / 18:00 Beirut) **Key Details:** - Image "appears to show an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the head of a statue of a crucified Jesus that had fallen off of a cross" - Location: "Christian village of Debl in south Lebanon" (Deir Siryan/Debl) - **Debl municipality told AFP** that the statue was located in the village, but could not confirm whether it had been damaged - Spokesman Nadav Shoshani's statement on X quoted **Status:** ✅ International wire service, municipality confirmation attempted --- ### **AFP via Multiple Outlets:** | Outlet | URL | Time | |:-------|:----|:-----| | SpaceWar | spacewar.com | April 19, ~15:00 UTC | | Yahoo News | Various | Syndicated | | Daily Mail | Various | Syndicated | --- ## **MAJOR INTERNATIONAL OUTLETS** ### **International Business Times (IBTimes UK)** **URL:** https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/controversy-israeli-soldier-vandalizing-jesus-statue-1792521 **Published:** April 19, 2026 **Extensive Coverage:** Yes **Key Details:** - **3.4 million views** on Tirawi's original post - Location: "Christian town of Debel" (Deir Siryan) - Tirawi's follow-up tweet ID: 2045913802252685494 (about Debel) - Quote from "Debel Alerts" Facebook page: "'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)'" - Before-image of statue published by Debel Alerts - IDF Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani's full statement - Multiple social media reactions quoted **Status:** ✅ Major international outlet with extensive context --- ### **Roya News (Jordan)** **URL:** https://en.royanews.tv/news/69082 **Published:** April 19, 2026 **Time:** ~19:00-20:00 UTC **Key Details:** - "The incident has sparked strong condemnation across Lebanon, with officials and local communities describing it as a serious violation of religious sanctities" - IDF confirmed authenticity (early confirmation) **Status:** ✅ Regional Arab outlet confirms condemnation in Lebanon --- ### **Infovaticana (Christian News - Spain)** **URL:** https://infovaticana.com/en/2026/04/19/an-israeli-soldier-smashes-a-statue-of-christ-with-a-hammer-in-southern-lebanon/ **Published:** April 19, 2026 **Time:** 23:01 (likely Spain time = 21:01 UTC) **Key Details:** - Location: "Debel, in the Nabatieh district" - **"Debel Alerts"** local account published image of intact statue before destruction - "The landscape setting—the cross, the stone wall, the vegetation, and the terrain layout—fully matches the scenario" - Tirawi described as "prestigious journalist with no history of fakes" - Haaretz credited as "one of the deans of the Israeli press" **Status:** ✅ Christian media outlet, mentions local "Debel Alerts" source --- ### **Cina Radio (Syndicated AFP)** **URL:** https://www.cinaradio.com/2026/04/19/israeli-army-probes-image-of-soldier-hitting-jesus-statue-in-lebanon/ **Source:** AFP syndication **Status:** ✅ Syndicated international coverage --- ## **ARABIC SOURCES** ### **Vetogate (Egypt)** - Already documented **Additional note:** Mentions "عين إبل" (Ain Ebel) as another Christian site destroyed ### **Al-Fajr TV (Palestine)** - Already documented ### **Radio Tariq Al-Mahabbe** - Already documented --- ## **ISRAELI SOURCES** ### **Jerusalem Post** (Search ongoing - not yet found) ### **Ynetnews** (Search ongoing - not yet found) ### **i24NEWS** (Search ongoing - not yet found) --- ## **UPDATED COMPREHENSIVE TIMELINE** ### **April 19, 2026 (Beirut Time / UTC):** | Beirut | UTC | Event | Source | |:-------|:----|:------|:-------| | 18:12 | **15:12** | **Contact receives content** | WhatsApp - **CONFIRMED** | | ~18:14 | ~15:14 | "3m ago" forward captured | Evidence file | | ~19:19 | **16:19** | Evidence files saved | System timestamps | | ~20:45 | **~17:45** | **Tirawi tweets** | @ytirawi - **FIRST PUBLIC** | | 20:48 | **17:48** | Times of Israel publishes | timesofisrael.com | | ~21:39 | **18:39** | Vetogate publishes (Egypt) | vetogate.com | | ~22:00 | **~19:00** | Haaretz verifies | haaretz.com | | ~22:00 | **~19:00** | AFP publishes | AFP/spacewar.com | | ~22:00 | **~19:00** | Roya News publishes | en.royanews.tv | | ~23:01 | **~21:01** | Infovaticana publishes | infovaticana.com | ### **April 20, 2026:** | Beirut | UTC | Event | Source | |:-------|:----|:------|:-------| | ~00:21 | **~21:21** | **IDF confirms authenticity** | timesofisrael.com | | (April 20) | (April 19) | vows action & restoration | **BREAKING** | --- ## **SOURCES BY CATEGORY** ### **Primary Verification (Israeli):** 1. ✅ **Haaretz** - First Israeli outlet, IDF acknowledgment 2. ✅ **Times of Israel** - Multiple updates, IDF confirmation ### **International News Agencies:** 3. ✅ **AFP** - International wire service, municipality confirmation 4. ✅ **Reuters** - Not yet found 5. ✅ **Associated Press** - Not yet found ### **International Outlets:** 6. ✅ **International Business Times (UK)** - 3.4M views, extensive context 7. ✅ **Roya News (Jordan)** - Regional condemnation 8. ✅ **Infovaticana (Spain)** - Christian perspective ### **Arabic Language:** 9. ✅ **Vetogate (Egypt)** - First Arabic outlet 10. ✅ **Al-Fajr TV (Palestine)** - Palestinian coverage 11. ✅ **Radio Tariq Al-Mahabbe** - Christian radio ### **Social Media First Post:** 12. ✅ **Younis Tirawi (@ytirawi)** - Palestinian journalist, first public post --- ## **MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS** ### **April 20 Breaking:** - ⭐ **IDF confirms image is authentic** - ⭐ **IDF vows action against those involved** - ⭐ **IDF promises to assist in restoring statue** --- ## **MISSING SOURCES TO MONITOR** - [ ] Maronite Church/Lebanese Christian authority official statement - [ ] Lebanese government official response - [ ] UNIFIL statement - [ ] Al Jazeera in-depth coverage - [ ] BBC News (English) coverage - [ ] Reuters detailed report - [ ] Associated Press report - [ ] Jerusalem Post coverage - [ ] Ynetnews coverage - [ ] Soldier identification (if released) --- **Last Updated:** April 20, 2026 **IDF Confirmation:** Authentic, investigation ongoing, restoration promised