The Associated Press

· Posted: Apr 21, 2026 3:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

Israel's military says it has replaced a crucifix in southern Lebanon after a soldier smashed it down over the weekend.

The Israeli military posted a photo on social media of the replacement crucifix, which appeared smaller but more ornate than the original statue that a soldier was photographed destroying in southern Lebanon.

Tuesday's post on X said troops worked with the community in the Lebanese village of Debel to co-ordinate the replacement, which includes a metallic-sheened Jesus figure and four paintings of saints, one on each arm of the cross.

An Israeli military statement said an investigation into the incident showed that one soldier damaged the Christian religious symbol, while another ​photographed the act. Two soldiers were removed from combat duty and placed in military detention for 30 days, it said.

Six other soldiers had been present without taking ⁠action or interfering, according ⁠to the statement.

A picture that showed an Israeli soldier taking ‌the blunt side of an axe to a fallen sculpture of Jesus on the cross drew widespread condemnation on Monday from Israeli politicians, the United States and church leaders.

It was posted by Younis Tirawi, a ​Palestinian reporter who has also posted images of Israeli ​soldiers' apparent misconduct in Gaza.

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Reuters verified the image as having been taken in Debel, one of ​the few villages in southern Lebanon where residents remained through Israel's military campaign against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia that began March 2.

Christians are estimated to make up around a third of Lebanon's population of roughly 5.5 million people. Thousands of Christians were displaced from their homes in the country's south during the war.