Lebanon (MNN) — Tensions remain high between Israel and Lebanon amidst talks of a ceasefire deal this week. Pierre Houssney works with Horizons International, a ministry to Muslims in Lebanon. He says Lebanese leaders shut down a similar proposal last week.
“That was quite frustrating, but it’s encouraging to know that things are, at this time, looking like they are going forward. You do get the feeling that it could fall apart, but we are all hopeful that it could really be true.”
Under the agreement, officials anticipate a 60-day period in which the Israeli army will withdraw troops from key positions, handing them over to the Lebanese army. If Hezbollah attempts to reestablish ground near the border, the Lebanese army will be responsible for dealing with the threat. Israel reserves the right to strike if no action is taken. This would be done in coordination with and under approval from the US, Houssney says.
Nearly 3,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023, when Hezbollah first fired rockets into Israel. Israel has been conducting airstrikes in response and launched a ground invasion on October 1st of this year. Since September, Israeli forces have targeted and killed at least seven of Hezbollah’s top leaders, destabilizing the group.
“We do get the sense that the Hezbollah operatives that are sending missiles are not under central command, Houssney says.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
The flow of weaponry to Hezbollah has ceased or heavily dwindled under the Israeli offensive, but the group is still able to operate from hidden stashes of missile reserves.
“There has definitely been a triage when it comes to Israeli strikes on these weapon caches where they’re striking the bigger locations,” Houssney explains. In an effort to eliminate the weapon depots, Israel is moving from bigger targets to smaller ones.
“God only knows how many micro-reserves of weapons there are, but you do get the sense that they are dwindling,” Houssney says.
Interacting with Christians on the ground in Lebanon, Houssney hears hesitant hope. He says the idea of a ceasefire brings psychological relief.
Still, the road ahead is long. Believers can pray for people whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed in the conflict.
“Even if tomorrow morning they were to go back to their areas,” Houssney explains, “they would be setting up tents where their homes used to be.”
He also asks for prayer “that God would continue to work in the hearts of people and use the church that’s present here in the Middle East to make the biggest Gospel impact that we can in the midst of the crisis.”
Header image courtesy of fahed kiwan via Pixabay
