The Coming Third Lebanon War

The Coming Third Lebanon War - Terry James - http://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/

 

The nation of Israel has had two major wars with its northern neighbor Lebanon. In 1982 the first Lebanon war was launched to neutralize Palestine Liberation Organization forces. After PLO leader Yasser Arafat found himself surrounded on all sides, he graciously agreed to a ceasefire that had him and his forces retreating from Beirut to Tunisia.

 

The second Lebanon War occurred in 2006, and was the result of Israelis responding to shelling from Hezbollah forces. The Israel air force inflicted heavy damage on buildings in Lebanon's capital. Due to unparalleled Iranian military support to Hezbollah before and during the war, some consider it the first round of the Iran-Israel proxy conflict.

 

It now appears that all along the Israeli-Lebanon border, round two is about to break out. That is what Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told reporters last week. He had just returned from a bipartisan trip that included Democratic Sen. Chris Coons.

 

Graham said that Israeli officials made it clear to visiting lawmakers that the IDF will need to launch a military action in Southern Lebanon if Hezbollah continues work on a guided-rocket factory being built in the region - a factory that's purportedly being funded by Iran, according to Bloomberg.

 

"They've told us in no uncertain terms that if this threat continues - they keep making rockets that can hit the airport and do a lot of damage to the state of Israel - they are going to have to go in," Graham said.

 

The reason why Iran is directly funding the factory is a result of America's lack of a strategy in dealing with Iranian influence in Lebanon and Syria. Because of the intense focus on destroying what is left of ISIS, US military commanders have ignored the growing threat from Iranian agents. In the Middle East, we are always a step behind in fighting the greater adversary.

 

Graham said that the top request from Israel, in a meeting with that country's leaders, was "ammunition, ammunition, ammunition" and for future diplomatic support when Israel is forced to strike civilian areas where Hezbollah has heavily imbedded itself.

 

History shows that Israel will always respond to the need for self-preservation. Iran has repeatedly promised to destroy the Jewish state. The situation is so urgent that a partnership between former foes, Saudi Arabia and Israel, has been formed to push back against Iranian influence in the region, including the implicit threat of military violence.

 

There has been a typical response from the Lebanese government. Lebanon President Michel Aoun condemned the Israeli regime's repeated violations of Lebanon's sovereignty, saying Beirut is prepared to counter any potential Israeli threat or violation.

 

"Lebanon is keen on maintaining stability and calm in South Lebanon, but it is also ready to defend itself shall Israel carry out an assault," Aoun said in a meeting with UN Under-Secretary General Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

 

The number of missiles Hezbollah has amassed has nothing to do with basic defense. This terrorist group has an estimated rocket count of around 200,000 which is considerably more than most countries. Hezbollah is clearly planning for World War III.

 

The standoff between Israel and Hezbollah shows the staying hand of God. In any other setting, it would be inconceivable for a Muslim force to have so many missiles aimed at Israel and resist the urge to fire them at their foe. Hamas in Gaza only has access to the most crude projectiles and they have fired dozens of times in Israel's direction. Hezbollah has missiles that can hit almost any city in Israel.

 

There is such a profound hatred of the Jewish race in the world today that any conflict involving Israel is bound to inflame this demonic rage. Bible prophecy seems to indicate that some event will act as a catalyst to turn all nations against Israel. I believe we are living in the only time that could produce such a universally evil mindset.

 

"For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land" (Joel 3: 1-2).