Lebanon (MNN) — Mediators between Israel and Hezbollah say they hope a truce in Gaza could also open doors for a de-escalation of violence at the Israel-Lebanon border. But as we’ve seen over the last several months, diplomatic efforts can sour on a dime.
Pierre Houssney with Horizons International in Lebanon says, “It’s not clear whether a truce would be positive or negative because it’s just possible that when Israel is done with what it’s doing in Gaza, it could turn more of its resources toward the Lebanon front.”
Hezbollah terrorists, for their part, continue to engage in war crimes as they attack Israel.
“We’ve had Hezbollah rockets fired from next to homes of church members,” says Houssney. “They’re having their neighborhoods directly under threat because Hezbollah is using those areas to launch missiles into Israel. So it’s caused a lot of fear.”
Throughout Lebanon, Horizons staff members meet with people in their homes to share the Gospel and pray together.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Horizons International)
Meanwhile, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah at Lebanon’s southern border caused 58 Lebanese schools and education centers to close by spring. Will any of those schools reopen in the fall? It doesn’t seem likely, and 20,000 students could be impacted.
In a country the size of Lebanon, everyone feels the conflict’s impact. Houssney says, “Many people don’t realize how small Lebanon is. I mean, it’s about 140 miles from north to south. So that southern area of Lebanon where Tyre is, it’s not that far from the southern border to Israel.”
Horizons International works with the Lebanese Church to spread Gospel hope and reach Muslims for Christ. These local churches are serving thousands of people displaced from the southern border.
Pray with believers in Lebanon and throughout the region for peace. Ask God to lead many Lebanese people, including Hezbollah, to put their trust in Jesus Christ.
Houssney encourages, “I think we need to be a support to the brothers and sisters in Christ that are on all sides of these borders as things are heating up politically and as violence is increasing.”
Find ways to come alongside the Lebanese Church with Horizons International.
Header photo of Israel-Lebanon border. (Photo courtesy of Eternalsleeper | Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9439853)
