Learn what will happen during the tribulation period from beginning to end
Your comments and questions are always welcome. To send comments and questions please click here to go to our main page. Friday, April 5, 2002 By Christopher Hack Fears are growing of a new military front opening in the Middle East, across Israel's northern border with Lebanon. Such a development would turn the conflict into a more dangerous regional war, probably drawing in both Lebanon and Syria, and perhaps other nations. In recent days, guerrillas of the Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah movement have increased their sporadic attacks on Israeli positions across a disputed area of the border. Israel has responded by shelling unoccupied areas on the Lebanese side of the border. But the Israeli Government has said if the attacks continue, it will broaden its retaliation. In the past year, Hezbollah is believed to have built up a large arsenal of missiles in southern Lebanon, which if launched could paralyse northern Israel, reaching as far south as Haifa. Any tit-for-tat exchange in which these missiles were launched would trigger a massive Israeli military operation against Lebanon - "turning it into a parking lot," according to one analyst. Most Lebanese, including their own government, desperately want to avoid their country being sucked into the conflict. However, Lebanon is effectively controlled by its larger neighbour Syria, which along with Iran sponsors Hezbollah. Damascus is frustrated with Israel's actions in the West Bank and Gaza, and also yearns for Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights - a vast Syrian mountain plateau occupied since 1967. Syria has long allowed Hezbollah to launch small cross-border attacks to maintain "military pressure". However, analysts believe the ferocity of the Israeli offensive against the Palestinians in recent weeks has prompted Syria to let Hezbollah off the leash. END
This very well could under mind U.S attempts to bring peace to the area. Israel has made it plain that they hold both Lebanon and Syria responsible for these rocket attacks. It wouldn't surprise me if this prompted an Israeli attack on these two countries. It may have to come down to U.S., U.N or E.U. forces actually patrolling the area to keep the violence from getting out of hand.
I must say I was a little shocked at the response of the European Union regarding their lack of desire to fight terrorism (freezing assets). Do they really believe that they are exempt from the wrath of terrorism? It's only a matter of time before they will be targeted.
I do believe that about the time we think we have things figured out in the Middle East the Lord throws a curve in there to mix things up a bit. Right now I would say that anything could happen. We could be days away from all out war or all out peace. The antichrist could come on the scene just before the area explodes into war. But it won't be up to the powers that be. Only the Lord knows the exact time of events. Pastor Malone