<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/israel" rel="" target="_blank" title="Israeli"><span>Israeli</span></a><span> Defence Forces (IDF) has launched an investigation after confirming a photo showing one of its soldiers destroying a statue of Jesus Christ in southern </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/lebanon" rel="" target="_blank" title="Lebanon"><span>Lebanon</span></a><span> is real.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The image, initially shared by </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/palestine" rel="" target="_blank" title="Palestinian"><span>Palestinian</span></a><span> journalist Younis Tirawi on X, showed a soldier using a hammer to topple a statue of Jesus Christ.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tirawi claimed the soldier was from the IDF and was operating in southern Lebanon, though it is unclear when the photo was taken.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-live-updates-april-20-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/d51d0dc8-dff0-4c0b-86b8-4d71ac90583b" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Treasurer admits Australia is a 'hostage' after recession query</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The IDF has confirmed through multiple channels that the image is real and is now investigating the incident.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon," a statement on the IDF's X account read.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The IDF claims they view the incident with "great severity" and that the conduct of the soldier is "wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/israel-idf-confirm-photo-soldier-smashing-jesus-christ-statue-lebanon-real-investigation/298cb755-da02-4d55-9b49-e20045ec5c28" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>WORLD:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/eight-children-killed-in-louisiana-mass-shooting/27d4d5df-0a06-45f2-9bc7-13ac49876565" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Police identify suspect who killed eight children during mass shooting in Louisiana</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Israel had been conducting a military operation in southern Lebanon, where it was launching strikes against the militant group Hezbollah.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Attacks on Lebanon increased after the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title="USA"><span>USA</span></a><span> and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/iran" rel="" target="_blank" title="Iran"><span>Iran</span></a><span> agreed to a ceasefire to temporarily halt their </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/israel-iran-conflict" rel="" target="_blank" title="conflict"><span>conflict</span></a><span>, though Israel claimed Lebanon was not included.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lebanon's government claims Israeli strikes have killed more than 2000 people since March 2, and the UN said 303 people alone were killed in a 10-minute bombardment on April 8.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-politics-instant-tax-deduction-to-be-enshrined-in-law-jim-chalmers/dba7a95c-069c-43bd-92c7-8be822bb4475" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Millions of Aussies to get instant $1000 tax deduction</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After officials from the two countries met last week, it was finally agreed that Lebanon would be included in the ceasefire.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The IDF claims it is operating in southern Lebanon to disrupt the operations of Hezbollah, which is aligned with Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The IDF is operating to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure established by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and has no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or religious symbols," it said in the statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a 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