The Times of Israel reported that earlier today, Israeli jets set off Sonic booms in Beirut just as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was set to start delivering his fiery speech once again threatening the world’s one and only Jewish State.
“Israeli warplanes broke the sound barrier over Beirut just ahead of a pugnacious speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday afternoon, as northern residents were told to stay close to bomb shelters amid a series of cross-border attacks from Lebanon,” the Times of Israel detailed. “At the beginning of his televised address on Tuesday to mark the one-week anniversary of Shukr’s death, Nasrallah charged that the sonic booms set off by Israeli planes flying low over Beirut were intended as a provocation.”
“The loud booms sent residents rushing to open their windows to prevent the glass from shattering or standing on their balconies to get a glimpse of the planes flying over,” the report continued.
Clearly, this was a message from Israel.
There has been talk of Hezbollah striking Israel prior to Iran’s promised attack. If Hezbollah tries to attack Israel in some major way, Beirut, the capital of Lebanon where Nashallah routinely hides, will be on the table.
Israeli leaders, both military and political, have said this for years. If Lebanon is hosting Hezbollah, if Hezbollah has essentially built a state within a state, Lebanon will also pay a price—hence, sonic booms over Beirut.
Additionally, five Hezbollah terrorist operatives were taken out in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon today, and Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets at the Galilee region and the Golan Heights. It is a high-intensity war that’s gone on since October 8th between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Offense vs Defense — Awaiting The Iranian Attack
The world continues to wait for the promised Iranian axis of evil attack on Israel. It has been one week since the news broke that Israel had eliminated top Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr. While Shaukr was killed in Beruit, Haniyeh was taken out in Tehran under the noses of the Iranian regime, his host. Ever since, we have been hearing threats of revenge from the Iranian axis.
Iran reportedly told diplomats that they are going to strike Israel—or at least they will try. Is the moment is upon us?
Some have suggested the regime will wait until the ninth of Av, a significant day on the Jewish calendar. This was the day, a few hundred years apart, when both Jewish temples were destroyed, and the Jewish people were exiled from the land of Israel. First, the Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s temple. Later, in 70 AD, the Romans led by General Titus, destroyed the second temple, often referred to as “Herod’s Temple,” where Jesus taught and chased out the money changers.
We don’t know when this Iranian attack is coming, but sitting in the United States, it has been difficult watching this all unfold. Call me crazy, but if someone is planning to strike you… strike them first before they get the chance! It has been maddening to see Israel have to sit around and wait for this Iranian attack before they can respond. The reason for that is the Biden Administration. That’s not political; that’s a fact.
Just as they did during the April 13th attack on Israel by Iran, the Biden Administration is telling Israel that they will help “defend” against any Iranian attack, but if Israel goes on the offensive, that support will no longer remain. It’s a disgrace on the part of the American Administration.
I just sat down with my good friend Yair Pinto, a TBN Israel correspondent out of Jerusalem and spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces who served in Gaza. On an episode of Stakelbeck tonight, I expressed my frustration with Yair that the world is pressuring Israel to sit and wait to be attacked. He responded by saying that he did not believe that this attack will be like April 13th.
On April 13th, Israel waited, he explained. They knew Iran had launched over 300 rockets, missiles, and attack drones, and it took a few hours for some of them to actually reach Israel. Thankfully and miraculously 99% of them were shot down. It was a miracle. This time around, Yair said, as soon as Iran fires one missile, Israel’s going to strike crucial facilities in Iran—perhaps military, oil facilities, or water infrastructure.
Israel is not going to stand pat once Iran pushes that trigger, he stressed during our discussion.
Five days after the April 13th attack, Israel responded in a very limited way, with one air strike near an Iranian nuclear facility. It had symbolic value, but overall, it was not the kind of response from Israel that served as a deterrent to Iran. If it was, we wouldn’t be having this conversation today. Yair believes that the Israeli response will be carried out quickly, in real-time.
During the Six-Day War, another miraculous victory, Israel struck first. Egypt, Syria, and Jordan en mass were on Israel’s borders. Like now, everyone knew the attack was coming. Israel struck them and destroyed the Egyptian Air Force while it was still on the ground. They never got in the air. The war was effectively over in the opening hours because of preemptive action.
That was 1967. Contrast that with the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Israel’s enemies made major gains in the early days of the war before Israel eventually turned the tide and ended up with a resounding victory. However, over 2,500 Israeli soldiers lost their lives. That’s a heavy price for a tiny Nation like Israel to pay. That was the difference between offense in 1967 and defense in 1973.
Biden Administration Tying Israel’s Hands
There have been rumblings that Israel may strike preemptively now. If Israel does not, I believe it would be because the world will howl and blame Israel. Whereas, if Israel waits for the rockets to start flying from Iran and the Jewish State reacts overwhelmingly, they can point to Iran taking the first shot.
It’s a sad state of affairs ladies and gentlemen, but that’s where we’re at in the world right now. The world as a whole is trying to restrain Israel from taking decisive action against genocidal forces that want to wipe it off the map.
On April 13th, Joe Biden told Benjamin Netanyahu, “Take the win,” it wasn’t a successful attack, so let sleeping dogs lie. The problem with that is Iran became emboldened. April 13th, in one sense, was a resounding victory, with 99% of those projectiles being shot down, in another sense, Iran took notes. They got away with it.
We know from the public statements of the Biden Administration that they’re tying Israel’s hands and threatening them not to attack preemptively.
Though under Biden they don’t act as such, the United States remains the leader of the free world. When the United States is weak, it leaves a vacuum for the world’s worst actors to fill. Weak men create hard times, and we’re seeing this throughout the West. Iran is not frightened or nervous about the US—they’re emboldened. That’s why they’re doing this again, and they will very likely try to do it with greater force and magnitude this time around.
Until the US shows strength and takes the pressure off of Israel, allowing them to do what is necessary, we’ll continue to have these provocations from the likes of the Iranian regime.
Hamas Names Sinwar Top Leader
Meanwhile, in the demonic death cult known as Hamas, the Osama Bin Laden of Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, ascended (more accurately descended) to the top leadership post, replacing the not-so-dearly departed Ismail Haniyeh who was taken out in Tehran last week.
Sinwar, a barbaric butcher, is the face of October 7th. If you are following Hamas as I have since its inception, you shouldn’t be surprised. They’re doubling down. There is no turning back. Hamas is a genocidal jihadist organization that exists to destroy Israel.
Pray For Israel
Right now, Israel could use a few good friends (it goes without saying). As Christians, we must try to fulfill that biblical mandate of blessing the people of Israel and assisting the people of Israel as laid out in Genesis 12:3.
Israel needs to rely on the God of Israel. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I ask you to join me in praying for Israel’s leaders—for them to have the wisdom of Solomon, spines of steel and boldness, and the courage to do what’s right.
