There has been widespread condemnation after an image of an Israeli soldier apparently hitting a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon went viral. Israel's prime minister said he was 'stunned and saddened'. Its foreign minister stated: 'We apologise for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.' Locals say the statue was on a crucifix outside a family home on the edge of Debel, one of the few villages where residents have remained during Israel's war with Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it viewed the incident 'with great severity and emphasises that the soldier's conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops'. The head of Debel's congregation, Father Fadi Flaifel, expressed that they totally reject the desecration of the cross and such acts do not reflect civility, noting similar past incidents. The IDF confirmed that measures will be taken against those involved and it is working with the Christian community to restore the statue. The US ambassador to Israel remarked that 'swift, severe, & public consequences are needed.' Thousands of Israeli troops continue to occupy areas of southern Lebanon following a US-brokered ceasefire that temporarily halted six weeks of fighting between IDF and Hezbollah, amid accusations of violations from both sides. This incident has fueled existing tensions in the region and within US-Israel relations, as support for Israel among Americans has reportedly decreased recently. The ongoing conflict has already led to significant casualties and displacement of civilians within Lebanon.