Israel acknowledges shelling of Greek Catholic monastery in Lebanon

Destruction on the territory of the monastery in the village of Yaroun in southern Lebanon after Israeli shelling. Photo: Orthodoxia news agency

On May 2, the Israeli army confirmed damage to a "religious building" in the village of Yaroun in southern Lebanon during a military operation, reports Orthodoxianewsagency.

The army stated that the facility was damaged during operations to destroy infrastructure linked to Hezbollah. According to an Israeli military representative, there was no visible sign to indicate that it was a religious building. Once clear distinguishing features were identified on another building at the site, Israeli forces acted to prevent further damage to the site.

The incident concerns a monastery in Yaroun belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters – a Greek Catholic religious order. Lebanese sources had previously reported destruction in Yaroun, including the monastery, a school, residential buildings, and shops. A French Catholic organization supporting the monastery accused the Israeli side of deliberately destroying the religious site, however, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected information about the complete destruction of the building.

The incident occurred amid ongoing confrontation: despite a ceasefire that came into effect on April 17, Israel and Hezbollah continue exchanging strikes, while Israeli forces operate in the border zone in southern Lebanon.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Benjamin Netanyahu met with Christian soldiers and called them defenders not only of the Israeli state.

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