An IDF soldier was filmed destroying a statue of Jesus Christ in the Maronite Christian village of Debel (also known as Deir Siryan), located in southern Lebanon's Bint Jbeil District. The image first surfaced on social media on April 19, 2026, and was confirmed authentic by the Israel Defense Forces on April 20, 2026.
The incident occurred during the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire period (April 17-27, 2026) and has drawn widespread international condemnation, including from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Christian community leaders.
| Beirut Time | UTC | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:12 | 15:12 | Content received via WhatsApp from "النشرة" (The Bulletin) | Private receipt - CONFIRMED |
| ~18:14 | ~15:14 | Forward chain captured showing "3m ago" | WhatsApp evidence |
| 19:19 | 16:19 | Evidence files saved | System timestamps |
| ~20:45 | ~17:45 | Younis Tirawi posts on Twitter/X | FIRST PUBLIC |
| 20:48 | 17:48 | Times of Israel publishes | timesofisrael.com |
| ~21:39 | 18:39 | Vetogate (Egypt) first Arabic coverage | vetogate.com |
| ~22:00 | 19:00 | Haaretz verifies and publishes | haaretz.com |
| ~23:01 | 21:01 | Infovaticana (Christian media) | Christian outlet |
| Beirut Time | UTC | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:21 | 21:21 (Apr 19) | IDF CONFIRMS AUTHENTICITY | Times of Israel |
| Morning | — | FM Gideon Sa'ar condemns incident | Multiple outlets |
| Ongoing | — | Northern Command investigation | IDF statements |
Date: April 19, 2026
An IDF soldier was filmed smashing a statue of Jesus in the village of Deir Siryan near the Litani River in southern Lebanon. Footage showed the soldier swinging a sledgehammer at the head of the statue.
IDF Initial Response:
These actions are not consistent with the IDF's values and the conduct expected of its soldiers. The incident will be investigated thoroughly and in-depth.
Date: April 20, 2026
Full IDF Statement:
Following an initial review, 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 Northern Command will also assist the Christian community in restoring the statue to its place.
Date: April 19-20, 2026
FM Gideon Sa'ar Statement:
The damaging of a Christian religious symbol by an IDF soldier in southern Lebanon is grave and disgraceful. This shameful action is completely contrary to our values. I extend an apology to Christians who felt hurt.
Wadie Abunassar, Christian Forum in the Holy Land:
It is impossible to remain silent in the face of such violations. I call for efforts to verify the incident and for complaints to be filed to bring the perpetrator to justice.
Key Details:
Key Finding: 3.4 million+ views on Tirawi post
Local Source: "Debel Alerts" Facebook page quoted: "'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)'"
5+ million views confirmed on original Tirawi post
Location: Debel, Maronite Christian town ~6 km northwest of Ain Ebel, ~5 km from Israeli border community of Shtula
Date: April 19, 2026 (~21:39 Beirut)
Original Headline (Arabic):
جندي إسرائيلى يحطم تمثالا للسيد المسيح فى جنوب لبنان
English Translation: "Israeli soldier smashes a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon"
Note: First Arabic language coverage; also reported destruction in Ain Ebel
Original Headline (Arabic):
جيش الاحتلال يعلن فتح تحقيق في حادث تحطيم تمثال السيد المسيح في جنوب لبنان
English Translation: "The occupation army announces opening an investigation into the incident of smashing the statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon"
Type: Christian radio station covering Palestinian/Lebanese Christian communities
Platform: Twitter/X
Date: ~20:45 Beirut / ~17:45 UTC
Significance: First public posting
Views: 5+ million (Al Jazeera reported)
Platform: Twitter/X (@LTC_Shoshani)
The IDF is currently examining the reliability of the photograph. If this is indeed real, these actions do not align with the IDF's values. The incident will be investigated thoroughly.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name Variants | Debel, Debl, Dibil, Deir Siryan, Deir Saryan |
| District | Bint Jbeil District |
| Governorate | Nabatieh Governorate, Southern Lebanon |
| Religious Affiliation | Maronite Christian |
| Distance to Ain Ebel | ~6 km northwest |
| Distance to Israeli Border | ~5 km northeast of Shtula |
| Coordinates (approx.) | ~33.230°N, ~35.320°E |
Full IDF Statement:
Following an initial review, 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. Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved. The Northern Command will also assist the Christian community in restoring the statue to its place.
| Item | Status | Expected |
|---|---|---|
| Soldier identification | NOT RELEASED | IDF investigation ongoing |
| Disciplinary action | NOT ANNOUNCED | "Appropriate measures" promised |
| Restoration of statue | PROMISED ONLY | No timeline |
| Lebanese government statement | NOT FOUND | No official statement |
| Maronite Church response | NOT FOUND | No official statement |