Israel Admits Damaging Catholic Convent in Southern Lebanon

04/05/2026

BEIRUT, May 4: A Catholic charity has accused Israeli forces of carrying out a “deliberate act of destruction” after a convent in southern Lebanon was damaged during military operations, an allegation the Israeli army disputes.

The incident took place in the border village of Yaroun, where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops were targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. In a statement, the military acknowledged that a “religious building” and nearby structures within a compound sustained damage, but denied demolishing the site.

According to the IDF, the building showed “no external signs” of being a place of worship at the time of the operation. The military added that once religious indicators were identified, troops acted to prevent further damage. It also released images, which it said showed the structure still standing.

The French Catholic charity L’Oeuvre d’Orient, which is affiliated with the Salvatorian Sisters who own the convent, claimed the site was “destroyed.” The convent, belonging to the Basilian Salvatorian Sisters, had housed two nuns who had already left due to ongoing hostilities. The compound previously included a school and clinic.

Gladys Sabbagh, the order’s superior general, told the Associated Press that the sisters had “heard” the convent was bulldozed, though this remains disputed.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected claims of demolition, stating the monastery “is intact and safe.” The IDF maintained that Hezbollah fighters had used the compound to launch rockets multiple times, justifying its targeting as part of efforts to dismantle “terror infrastructure.”

Lebanon’s Catholic Church strongly denied any military use of the site. Rev. Abdo Abou Kassm, head of the Catholic Center for Information, said religious institutions “are places to spread peace, love and education” and “are not military bases.”

The controversy comes amid heightened sensitivity over religious sites in the region. Just two weeks earlier, an Israeli soldier drew international condemnation after smashing a statue of Jesus in the village of Debel. The soldier was removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in military prison.

The destroyed statue was later replaced by a new one donated by UNIFIL’s Italian contingent, with Lebanese media noting it closely resembled the original. The Israeli military also provided a replacement, though it differed in size and design.

The latest incident is likely to intensify scrutiny over military operations near religious sites as tensions persist along the Lebanon-Israel border.