Israel’s military is investigating a soldier photographed smoking and placing a cigarette in the mouth of a Virgin Mary statue in a Christian village in southern Lebanon.

The incident followed another case in which an Israeli soldier damaged a statue of Jesus, leading to international criticism and military punishment.

Lebanese religious leaders and Catholic representatives condemned the acts as disrespectful, intolerant, and offensive to a peaceful Christian community.

The Israeli military said the behavior violated its values and promised disciplinary action while reaffirming respect for religious sites and freedom of worship, the BBC has reported.

The controversy comes amid ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah despite a ceasefire, with continued airstrikes and rocket attacks causing hundreds of deaths in Lebanon and Israel.