Military Prison and Combat Dismissal for Soldiers After Sledgehammer Attack on Jesus Statue in Southern Lebanon

Two IDF soldiers are dismissed and jailed after smashing a Jesus statue in southern Lebanon. The military has replaced the statue in coordination with locals.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 10:51 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

Swift Disciplinary Action Following Religious Desecration

The Israeli military has announced the dismissal and imprisonment of two soldiers involved in the destruction of a religious statue in southern Lebanon. The incident, which gained public attention after images surfaced on social media on April 19, 2026, featured a soldier using a sledgehammer to smash a statue of Jesus. Following a rapid internal investigation, the soldier who committed the act and the individual who filmed the footage were both removed from combat roles and sentenced to 30 days in military prison.

Restoration and Community Coordination in Debel

In an effort to mitigate the damage caused by the incident, the IDF Northern Command coordinated the replacement of the destroyed statue in the Christian village of Debel. The military confirmed that a new statue was delivered and erected on April 21, 2026, in full cooperation with local community representatives. This restoration effort was initiated immediately after the report of the incident reached command levels, with the military expressing deep regret over the actions of the troops involved.

Command Inquiry Identifies Moral Failure

A detailed inquiry led by Brig. Gen. Sagiv Dahan, commander of the 162nd Division, determined that the soldiers’ conduct deviated entirely from standing orders and military values. The investigation revealed that six additional troops were present during the act but failed to intervene or report the desecration to their superiors. These individuals have been summoned for clarification discussions, and the military indicated that further command-level disciplinary measures may be applied to them in the near future.