CNN: Israel launches ‘preemptive’ strikes in Lebanon as Hezbollah fires back hundreds of rockets
Israel launched what it called a preemptive strike against Hezbollah, who responded with firing rockets into Israel:
Israel launches ‘preemptive’ strikes in Lebanon as Hezbollah fires back hundreds of rockets
August 25, 2024
The Israeli military launched what it called “preemptive” strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, as the Iran-backed militant group said it carried out its own strikes in response to the killing of a top commander.
The overnight strikes are some of the most serious yet between Israel and Hezbollah, who have been exchanging fire for months. The hostilities have raised the specter of a regional conflagration, prompting intense diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said about 100 of its fighter jets “struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels” across dozens of launch sites from Lebanon on Sunday. It followed these up with further attacks later in the day.
Israel said it carried out the strikes in self-defense after identifying that Hezbollah was “preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory.” Hezbollah called Israel’s description of its strike as preemptive “baseless.”
In a meeting with his security cabinet Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was “determined to do everything to protect our country,” and vowed to “uphold a simple rule: whoever hurts us — we hurt him.”
Soon after the Israeli raids, the IDF said approximately 200 rockets had been launched from Lebanon towards Israel early Sunday, with no reports of injuries so far. Hezbollah said the “first phase” of its strikes against Israel “has ended with complete success,”claiming that it launched 320 rockets and a barrage of drones toward Israel. https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/24/middleeast/israeli-strike-hezbollah-lebanon-intl-hnk/index.html
August 25, 2024
Israel carried out its biggest assault on Lebanon’s Iranian proxy group Hezbollah in 10 months of fighting early Sunday, acting on what an Israeli security source told VOA was precise intelligence to stop thousands of rockets and drones from being launched into Israeli territory. …
Israeli reserves Brig. Gen. Jacob Nagel, a former national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told VOA in a text message that Israel’s “precise intelligence worked very well” in detecting Hezbollah plans to strike deep into Israel with the aim of damaging both military and civilian facilities and harming civilians.
The Israeli military said most of the Hezbollah rockets and drones primed for Sunday’s predawn assault were aimed at northern Israel, while some also were aimed at the country’s densely populated center. The group denied that its planned attack was largely thwarted by a preemptive Israeli assault. …
In a separate VOA interview, former Israeli intelligence official Avi Melamed said Sunday’s predawn strikes on Hezbollah also highlight the group’s increasing struggle with maintaining deterrence against Israel.
Melamed, who runs Inside the Middle East, a U.S. nonprofit research group, said Hezbollah already has struggled with Israel using superior intelligence to carry out strikes killing more than 400 of its operatives in Lebanon in 10 months, among them senior commanders like Shukur.
“Sunday’s preemptive Israeli strike disrupted Hezbollah’s attack plan [to avenge Shukur], adding to a deterrence problem that also affects its patron Iran,” Melamed said.
Nagel said he sees Iran’s radical ruling clerics as behind all of the region’s terror activity that targets Israel.
“So the time is approaching for Israel to exercise a relatively new national security strategy and punish the terror leaders there,” he wrote, referring to Iran. https://www.voanews.com/a/israel-acted-on-intelligence-to-stop-hezbollah-firing-thousands-of-rockets-and-drones-security-source-says/7756139.html
Well, this action by Israel may further motivate Iran to attack.
Regarding matters involving the region, notice the following, which is chapter 4 in my free online book Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century:
- Iran, Syria, and Terror
The Hamas-Israel war that began on October 7, 2023, highlighted for many that Iran has been involved in backing Hamas, Hezbollah, and others. And of course, Iran has long been an ally of Syria.
HarperCollins published the following about an Islamic end times sign and Syria:
Another purported sign is the movement into Syria of the pro Assad Hezbollah militia, whose flag is yellow.
“As Imam Sadeq has stated, when the (forces) with yellow flags fight anti-Shi’ites in Damascus and Iranian forces join them, this is a prelude and a sign of the coming of his holiness,” Rohollah Hosseinian, an Iranian cleric and member of Parliament, explained. [i]
The expression “his holiness” is a reference to the Imam Mahdi—and its use of terms like that make some Sunni’s consider Shiites to be heretics and idolators.
That said, Iranians are Persians and not Arabs. Here is something about their ancestors:
Iranians … are a mixed people of the remnants of Media and Elam and other ancestors of Semitic and Hamitic stock.[ii]
Iran’s closest ally is Syria. While some Arab nations have made peace with Israel, Iran and Syria have not.
Notice the following hadiths:
“At the end of Time there will be a trial in which people will be sorted in a way similar to that in which gold is sorted from metal.”
“So do not rebuke the people of Syria but rebuke the evil people among them because amongst them is Al Abdal.
A flood is about to be sent down upon the people of Syria which will disperse their groups in such a way that if foxes attacked they would be beaten.
At that time a man from the Family of my House will come under three banners; between twelve and fifteen thousand and their password is – ‘Die, die.’ Then, there will come seven banners and under each will be one man seeking the kingdom.
Allah will kill all of them and restore unity and favors upon the hearts of Muslims, and those who were far come close.” [iii]
“Al Mahdi is a man from my children. His face is like a glittering star, his skin is the color of an Arab, and his body is like that of Israel.
He will fill the earth with justice just as it will have been filled by injustice, and the dwellers of Heaven and Earth will be pleased with his Caliphate.” [iv]
Although one of the hadiths above used the term Israel in a non-negative manner, in January 2021, Iranian state media ISNA reported:
Iranian lawmakers have submitted a bill seeking the government by law to commit to Israel’s destruction by the year 2040,” [v]
The Bible points to Iran (Elam below) and its ally Syria (Kir below) causing damage to Jerusalem of the nation of Israel:
5 For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity By the Lord God of hosts In the Valley of Vision — Breaking down the walls And of crying to the mountain.
6 Elam bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir uncovered the shield. 7 It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots, And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.
8 He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; 9 You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. 10 You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, And the houses you broke down To fortify the wall.
11 You also made a reservoir between the two walls For the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, Nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago. 12 And in that day the Lord God of hosts Called for weeping and for mourning, For baldness and for girding with sackcloth. (Isaiah 22:5-12)
The Bible tells that after Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took over Damascus, he moved Syrians to Kir (2 Kings 16:9-10). While this does not mean that Kir must (or must only) be a reference to Syria, the fact that Syria is an ally of Iran is interesting. The Bible also has the expression “the Syrians from Kir” (Amos 9:7), which is basically confirmation that Kir of Isaiah 22 would include Syrians. The prophecy that “Kir uncovered the shield” suggests that Syria will have somehow reduced the effectiveness of Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ and/or other defensive equipment the nation of Israel will use. The Bible additionally tells of a time when Kir will be destroyed (Isaiah 15:1b) and also says that Syria’s capital Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1). The “House of the Forest” was anciently located in Lebanon (e.g. 1 Kings 7:2, 10:17,21; 2 Chronicles 9:16,20 [vi])–which is where Hezbollah is based out of.
Here is the Catholic Public Domain Version translation of Isaiah 22:8:
8 And the covering of Judah will be exposed, and in that day, you will see the weaponry of the forest house. (Isaiah 22:8, CPDV)
A way for Judah to “see the weaponry of the forest house” would be a massive attack by Hezbollah. In Isaiah 22: 8, “Judah” is a reference to those in the land commonly called Israel–God will allow Israel to be attacked.
In Isaiah 22:9, understand that “the damage to the city of David” is a reference to at least part of Jerusalem, which is the “city of David” (cf. 2 Kings 9:28).
Further notice that Isaiah’s prophecy states that the damage will be great. Also notice part of the reason will be because Judah (modern nation of Israel) would “not look to its Maker,” nor “have respect for Him,” that God will allow this. Just relying on Israel’s own military will not be enough.
It appears there will likely be a regional war involving Israel, who has threatened to take preemptive attacks to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons[vii] as well as retaliatory attacks because of a massive arial attack by Iran announced on April 14, 2024.[viii] Israel has promised retaliation, with Iran’s then President Ebrahim Raisi asserting that even the “tiniest” invasion of its territory would bring a “massive and harsh” response. … and that if Iran had wanted to carry out a bigger attack, “nothing would remain from the Zionist regime.”[ix] While Israel did make what could be considered a tiny response, Iran suggested that the matter was now closed.[x] This author does not believe that, but instead believes that Iran and its allies are biding their time until they launch a massive attack.
Scripture points to an attack with Iranian involvement that will cause great damage to Israel. Despite its posturing, relative military strength, and ability to damage Israel and others, Iran will be somehow effectively neutralized (cf. Ezekiel 32:24). This could perhaps be from an attack involving Israel and other nations and/or internal civil unrest — this could also include electromagnetic (EMP) or similar weapons used against Iran (Jeremiah 49:34-39).
Before going further, certain Protestant and Jewish prophecy watchers believe that Iran, along with Russia, will invade the nation of Israel before Jesus returns based on the 38th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel, which is also related to Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38:2-6). But that prophecy is NOT for this age. Notice something Russia and Iran are prophesied to say:
11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’ — 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’”‘ (Ezekiel 38:11-13)
The tiny nation called Israel does not have any significant amount of gold,[xi] nor is it filled with peaceful people who dwell safely, hence the Ezekiel 38 prophecy is not for this age (it is post millennial per Revelation 20:7-8). Islam tends to use Gog and Magog as representations of evil (Sura 18:94).
For this age, understand that Iran has weapons that can cause damage, including terror. Biblically, we see that terror is associated with Elam:
24 There is Elam and all her multitude, All around her grave, All of them slain, fallen by the sword, Who have gone down uncircumcised to the lower parts of the earth, Who caused their terror in the land of the living; Now they bear their shame with those who go down to the Pit. (Ezekiel 32:24)
Furthermore, the USA itself, as well as the State of Israel, are vulnerable to EMP (electromagnetic pulse) type attacks and even items such as biological weapons, chemical weapons, terrorism, nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, etc. which Iran and Syria could use in a conflict.
But should this attack occur, this would NOT be the final destruction of the USA. Prophetically, Iran would not end up faring well (cf. Ezekiel 32:24-25).
Because of prophecies related to the destruction of Syria’s capital Damascus (Isaiah 17:1), damage to Iran from multiple nations (Jeremiah 49:34-39), and great damage to be done to Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:8-9), one or more of those events may well precede the ‘peace deal’ of Daniel 9:27.
After this author originally wrote basically the paragraph above, he ran across the following:
There is an 800-year-old rabbinic commentary known as Yalkut Shimoni, which he translates: “Paras (Persia-Iran) will be the dread of humanity. The world’s leaders will be frustrated in their futile efforts to save what they can, but to no avail. The people of Israel will also be petrified by the impending danger. And HaShem (God) will say to us, ‘Why are you afraid? All of this I have done in order to bring you the awaited redemption. And this redemption will not be like the redemption from Egypt, which was followed by suffering. This redemption will be absolute, followed with peace.’”[xii]
Yes, presuming we see great damage to Jerusalem, this would seem to set the stage for the peace deal of Daniel 9:27, which is consistent with the above old Jewish commentary.
Interestingly, there is a prophecy that the ‘Great Monarch’ of Greco-Roman prophecy will arise after Iran (Persia) causes damage:
Oracle of Baalbek: And the name of this King is concealed among the nations; and his name is similar to the last day, and it is written from the 18th letter. And when he will receive his empire, his name will be Anastasius, (Anastasois). This king is bald headed, handsome … In his day the Persians will rise up and destroy the cities of the East … [xiii]
The above, which is believed to have been written over a thousand years ago during the Byzantine reign, is a prediction of a leader to rise up that many Greco-Roman Catholic writings look forward to, called the Great Monarch. He looks to be similar to the one that the Bible refers to as the Beast, the final King of the North of Daniel 11. Notice the belief that he will be around when the Persians–the Iranians–have destroyed cities in the East. Jerusalem was east (as well as south) of the old Byzantium Empire. This looks to be in alignment with Isaiah 22:6-9.
Notice something else involving Syrians and the Palestinians, who Iran supports:
8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob, And it has fallen on Israel. 9 All the people will know — Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria — … 11 Therefore the Lord shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on, 12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. (Isaiah 9:8-9, 11-12)
In addition to the nation of Israel, the USA (prophetic Samaria) and its British descended allies (prophetic Ephraim) will have more terrorist attacks. Syrian, Palestinian (called Philistines in Isaiah 9:12) and some other refugees and other migrants within their borders are a potential terrorist problem (Jeremiah 15:6-8; Ezekiel 21:12, 32:24). The Bible clearly warns that there will be “terror within” as (Deuteronomy 32:25).
Isaiah and Ezekiel look to be prophesying problems from Syrians, Palestinians, and Iranians. And this would be expected to include terrorism. And this is also consistent with prophecies in Psalm 83.
In Ezekiel 38, Iran is prophesied to be involved in a battle on the side of Russia and China. But that prophecy will not be fulfilled for over 1000 years.
That said, in 2024, Iran joined the BRICS alliance, which is dominated by Russia, India, and China. All of those appear to be biblical “kings of the east” that will be involved in the gathering at Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16).
Furthermore, despite Iran’s preference for dealing with Europe over the United States of America, Iran looks to be one of the nations that will align with Russia and China to conquer the Babylonian European Beast power (Jeremiah 50:41-43).
Iran will be involved in the fulfillment of numerous prophecies.
[i] Stern, p. 222
[ii] Stump K. South Asia in Prophecy. Plain Truth, July/August 1986, p. 5
[iii] This hadith was reported by Imam Ali in the references of Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah and At-Tabarani. Accessed 11/06/23 https://www.muhammadanreality.com/ImamMahdiSignsfortheSavoir.htm#Top
[iv] These hadiths were narrated by Hudhayfah and are found in the references of Abu Nuaym, At-Tabarani, and Abu Amru Ad Dani. Accessed 11/06/23 https://www.muhammadanreality.com/ImamMahdiSignsfortheSavoir.htm#Top
[v] Iran Parliament to debate bill calling for Israel’s destruction by 2040. i24news, January 6, 2021
[vi] Though many scholars claim Jerusalem was the site of ‘the house of the forest,’ additional details as to reasons why Lebanon should be considered as the location are in the following paper: A Discourse on the House of the Forest of Lebanon, pp: 111-134 in Bunyan J. Stebbing H. The Entire Works of John Bunyan, Volume 4. Virtue and Company, 1860
[vii] Egozi A. With Netanyahu back in charge, is a solo Israeli strike against Iran in the cards? Breaking Defense, November 08, 2022
[viii] Frankel J. Israel says it will retaliate against Iran, despite the risks. ABC, April 16, 2024
[ix] The Latest | Netanyahu says Israel will decide how to respond as Iran warns against retaliation. Associated Pres, April 17, 2024
[x] Hafezi P, Mackenzie J. Tehran plays down reported Israeli attacks, signals no retaliation. Reuters, April 19, 2024
[xi] Kopf S. Jerusalem of Gold. Jerusalem Post, February 16, 2011
[xii] Rabbi: Blood moons mean ‘messianic advancement’. World News Daily, August 30, 2015
[xiii] Tzima Otto, p. 64
Iran may very well decide to strike Israel “preemptively.” On the other hand Iran likely also has plans for a massive response should Israel hit it “preemptively”–which is something Israel has suggested it will do.
More on what is prophesied to occur is in the following Bible News Prophecy video:
Iran and Israel Conflict
European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrel, has been brokering the nuclear negotiations involving Iran and said that he thinks the deal is “in danger.” Iran blames the United States, whereas the USA says they are not delaying it. Israeli sources stated that Israel will stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. Joe Biden says the USA would use its own military power to prevent Iran from getting such a bomb if need be. In 2021, Iranian lawmakers have submitted a bill seeking the government by law to commit to Israel’s destruction by the year 2040. Does the 22nd chapter of Isaiah point to damage coming to Israel from Iran and possibly Syria? Might Iran be concerned enough about limited progress with the USA to launch some type of attack? Is Iran the prophesied ‘King of the South’? Is it reasonable to think that the prophesied peace deal of Daniel 9:27 will not happen until after a military conflict. like a regional war? Should Christians watch the Middle East? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie discuss these matters.
Here is a link to our video: Iran and Israel Conflict.
As the Ayatollah continues to age, he may well decide that 2024 is the year for him to attempt to fulfill his desire to eliminate Israel.
This is something to watch for (cf. Mark 13:37).
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here are links to two related videos Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims.
Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes This article has information from the book, Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century, as well as from the old WCG and other sources. Here is a related sermon in the Spanish language: El cristianismo visto a través de los ojos islámicos.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or ? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
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