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Photo shows IDF soldier putting cigarette in Virgin Mary statue’s mouth in Lebanon

RT News · · 393 words · By Russia Today
Religious Persecution Israeli Military Conduct Lebanon-Israel conflict
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.rt.com/news/639528-idf-lebanon-attacks-christianity/

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
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Transfer 70% confidence
Projecting positive or negative qualities of one thing onto another to make it accepted or rejected.
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Cherry Picking 80% confidence
Selectively presenting evidence that supports one side while ignoring contrary evidence.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

12 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 5
info Single Source 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
schedule Pending 2
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“A photograph appearing to show an Israeli soldier placing a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon has sparked outrage online.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources, including Al Jazeera and several web search results, confirm the existence of the photograph showing an Israeli soldier placing a cigarette in the mouth of a Virgin Mary statue in southern Lebanon.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This timeline of the 2026 Lebanon war covers the period from 2 March 2026, when Hezbollah fired projectiles towards Israel from Lebanon following the start of the 2026 Iran war, to the present.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2026_Lebanon_w…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under various titles such as virgin or queen, many …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_mother_of_Jesus
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon (also known as Our Lady of Harissa, Arabic: سيدة لبنان, Sayyidat Lubnān) is a Marian shrine and a pilgrimage site in the village of Harissa in Lebanon. The shrine bel…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Lebanon
+ 4 more evidence sources
info
“The image... was reportedly taken in the predominantly Christian village of Dibil, near the border with Israel, and uploaded to social media by IDF soldiers.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the event itself is corroborated, the specific detail that it occurred in the village of Dibil and was uploaded by IDF soldiers is mentioned in the context of the reports but not independently verified by multiple distinct news organizations in the provided evidence.
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web search NEUTRAL — A photo of an Israeli soldier appearing to mock a Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon has triggered outrage and prompted an IDF probe.You can share this story on social media: Follow RT on RT.
https://www.rt.com/news/639528-idf-lebanon-attacks-christian…
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web search NEUTRAL — Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpLEtz3H0jSfEneSdf1YKnw/joinA photograph appearing to show a soldier placing a ciga...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e96P53n7ImM
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web search NEUTRAL — Photos of an IDF soldier smoking while putting a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary surfaced on Wednesday, in the latest in a series of actions perceived as showing disregard for Le…
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-895361
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“In a statement to RT, the IDF said it views the incident “with utmost severity” and that the soldier’s conduct “completely deviates” from its values.”
CORROBORATED
The IDF's response regarding the 'utmost severity' and the conduct 'completely deviating' from values is reported across multiple web search results and RT.
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web search NEUTRAL — It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security apparatus. The IDF is headed by the chief of the general staff, who is subordinate to the defense minister.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Defense_Forces
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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · The IDF, or, Israel Defense Forces, is the national military force of the State of Israel and consists of the Israeli Ground Force, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy.
https://www.jpost.com/tags/idf
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web search NEUTRAL — The IDF is striking terrorist infrastructure belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, whose operatives brutally massacred Israeli civilians just a week ago and have been terrorizing Israeli civi…
https://www.idf.il/en/articles/
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“The IDF added that the photo was taken several weeks ago and that “command measures” will follow a formal probe”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources, including RT and reports citing IDF spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani, confirm the photo was taken several weeks ago and that 'command measures' would follow a probe.
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web search NEUTRAL — The IDF added that the photo was taken several weeks ago and that “command measures” will follow a formal probe, stressing that it respects all holy sites and religious symbols.
https://www.rt.com/news/639528-idf-lebanon-attacks-christian…
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web search NEUTRAL — IDF spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said the photograph was taken several weeks ago and that "command measures" would be taken against the soldier in accordance with the findings of its investigati…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddpygv2j90o
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web search NEUTRAL — IDF spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said the photograph was taken several weeks ago and that "command measures" would be taken against the soldier in accordance with the findings of its investigati…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cddpygv2j90o
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“In April, video from the same village showed an Israeli soldier smashing a statue of Jesus Christ in the face with a large mallet during the ongoing ground operation in southern Lebanon.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources report that in April, a video emerged of an Israeli soldier smashing a statue of Jesus Christ in the same village in southern Lebanon.
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web search NEUTRAL — In April, video from the same village showed an Israeli soldier smashing a statue of Jesus Christ in the face with a large mallet during the ongoing ground operation in southern Lebanon.
https://www.rt.com/news/639528-idf-lebanon-attacks-christian…
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web search NEUTRAL — A viral image showing an Israeli soldier smashing a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon has triggered global outrage and intense debate.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa624po
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web search NEUTRAL — In April, Israeli soldiers were filmed smashing a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer in the same village, an act that led to disciplinary action against those involved. READ: Israel replaces s…
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/israeli-soldier-desecrates…
info
“The IDF later confirmed that two soldiers had been withdrawn from combat duty and jailed for 30 days after footage of the vandalism went viral.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this specific claim consists of general IDF Wikipedia/News links that do not mention the specific disciplinary action (30 days jail) for the Jesus statue vandalism. Only one specific report in the web search mentions disciplinary action generally, but the 30-day detail is not corroborated by multiple sources in the provided text.
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web search NEUTRAL — It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security apparatus. The IDF is headed by the chief of the general staff, who is subordinate to the defense minister.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Defense_Forces
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · The IDF, or, Israel Defense Forces, is the national military force of the State of Israel and consists of the Israeli Ground Force, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy.
https://www.jpost.com/tags/idf
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The IDF is striking terrorist infrastructure belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, whose operatives brutally massacred Israeli civilians just a week ago and have been terrorizing Israeli civi…
https://www.idf.il/en/articles/
info
“In 2023, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza hit a building next to the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, the enclave’s oldest Christian shrine, killing at least 18 people.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Wikipedia and news links about Israel and Gaza, but none of the provided snippets confirm the specific event of an airstrike hitting a building next to the Church of Saint Porphyrius killing 18 people in 2023.
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web search NEUTRAL — Treatment of Palestinians within the occupied territories and to a lesser extent in Israel itself have drawn widespread accusations that it is guilty of apartheid, a crime against humanity under the R…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel
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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Stay informed on Israel News: All for the latest updates, and breaking news on Israeli politics, culture, Israeli sports, Health, and Tech from the Jerusalem Post
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news
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web search NEUTRAL — Founders of Altneuland, the first such publishing house since the Jewish state’s inception, embrace Israeli writers – and readers – while spurning government funding
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
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“In 2025, shrapnel from an Israeli tank shell damaged Gaza’s Holy Family Church, the territory’s only Catholic parish, killing three.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources (The Guardian, Caritas Jerusalem, and other news reports) confirm that in July 2025, an Israeli shell hit the Holy Family Church in Gaza, killing three people.
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web search NEUTRAL — The shelling of the church also damaged its compound, where hundreds of Palestinians, including children and people with disabilities, have been sheltering during the 21-month war. Israel issued a rar…
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/17/israeli-attack…
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web search NEUTRAL — Caritas Jerusalem Damaged cross and roof of the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, Gaza (17 July 2025) Caritas Jerusalem. Caritas Jerusalem said a shell hit the church roof, scattering shrapnel and debr…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xvnlpx2dxo
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web search NEUTRAL — The only Catholic Church in Gaza, which Pope Francis called nightly since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, was hit by an Israeli shell this morning (July 17), killing three people and injuring 10 ot…
https://www.ncronline.org/news/two-dead-holy-family-gaza-pas…
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“Last month, a Catholic nun was assaulted in broad daylight in Jerusalem”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for the claim regarding a Catholic nun being assaulted in Jerusalem last month.
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“Lebanese authorities say that more than 2,700 people have been killed and around 1.2 million displaced since March 2, when Israel launched combat operations in Lebanon”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for the specific casualty and displacement figures attributed to Lebanese authorities starting from March 2.
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“Despite a US-mediated ceasefire that began on April 16 and was later extended until mid-May, Israeli troops have continued military operations north of the Litani River”
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“expanding a ‘buffer zone’ that stretches around 10 km into Lebanon.”
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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.