SOUTHERN LEBANON — The Israel Defense Forces opened an investigation after a photograph emerged over the weekend showing an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon striking a statue of Jesus Christ with what appeared to be an axe or sledgehammer. The image showed the statue turned upside down and removed from its cross.

The IDF said the soldier's conduct was wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops and that appropriate measures would be taken against those involved. The military said it was working to assist the community in restoring the statue to its place. The IDF also said it was operating to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon and had no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or religious symbols.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the incident in a statement. "I condemn the act in the strongest terms," Netanyahu said. "We express regret for the incident and for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world."

The statue was part of a small shrine in the garden of a family living on the edge of the village of Debel. "One of the Israeli soldiers broke the cross and did this horrible thing, this desecration of our holy symbols," said Fadi Falfel, a priest.

The photograph showing the soldier damaging the statue was widely shared online, garnering more than 5 million views on X. Residents of Debel largely remained in place throughout the Israeli military campaign in southern Lebanon.

Israel launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon last month and also conducted aerial bombardment in the area, while Hezbollah militants in Lebanon launched strikes against Israel. The military operation displaced over one million people and killed nearly 2,300, according to Lebanese officials. Israel and Lebanon subsequently agreed to a ten-day ceasefire brokered by the United States.