Fact check: Is the viral video of Israeli soldier smashing Jesus statue in Lebanon real? Here’s what Alex Bruesewitz claims

A viral post on Sunday, April 19, has ignited a storm of outrage and debate online after a user on X (formerly called Twitter) under the name, @ytirawi, shared an image allegedly showing an Israeli soldier smashing a statue of Jesus Christ with a hammer in Lebanon. As soon as the video surfaced on social media, it quickly sparked an intense debate and racked up 8 million views, 80K likes, and 35K retweets. But is the viral video real? Let's find out.



After the videos surfaced on the internet, among those reacting to it was Donald Trump's political adviser, Alex Bruesewitz, who said he had confirmed with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) that the viral image was authentic and not AI-generated.

The 29-year-old also called on the IDF to take immediate action, urging that the soldier involved be held "fully accountable" for an act he said had sparked anger among Christians worldwide.

Taking to X, he wrote, "The IDF has confirmed that this image is authentic. This is utterly disgraceful. I urge the IDF to take swift and decisive action to hold him fully accountable. The hatred and wickedness being directed at Christians must end now!"

The post quickly drew sharp reactions in the comments, with some users accusing Alex Bruesewitz of spreading misinformation, while others argued that the IDF would be unlikely to prioritise such an issue given ongoing military tensions.

A few commenters also framed the incident within broader religious tensions, adding to the debate.

Despite the viral traction and strong opinions, there has been no independent or official confirmation so far verifying the authenticity of the image beyond Bruesewitz’s claim.



According to the Times of Israel, the IDF has confirmed that the viral image is authentic, stating that it shows one of its soldiers in southern Lebanon damaging a statue of Jesus.

In an official statement, the military said the act was taken "with great severity" and did not reflect its values, adding that an investigation is underway through its Northern Command.

The IDF also noted that appropriate action would be taken based on the findings, and efforts would be made to help restore the statue in the Christian village of Debel.