[Today’s Prayer] Israel: “Reduction of Local Troops in Line with Lebanon’s ‘Hezbollah Disarmament’ Policy”

Israel announced on the 26th (local time) that, in response to the Lebanese government’s recent formal declaration that it would disarm the pro-Iranian militant group Hezbollah, it may reduce the size of Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated in a press release that day, “Israel acknowledges that under the leadership of President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam, the Lebanese government has taken important measures.”

It continued, “If the Lebanese army takes the necessary steps to implement Hezbollah’s disarmament, Israel will cooperate with the U.S.-led security mechanism and take reciprocal measures, such as gradually reducing the deployment of Israeli forces.”

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office emphasized, “Now Israel and Lebanon must move forward in a spirit of cooperation, focusing on the shared goals of Hezbollah’s disarmament and the promotion of stability and prosperity for both nations.”

This announcement came just one day after U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, Ambassador to Turkey, reportedly met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss security issues in Lebanon, Syria, and other regions.

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In November of last year, Israel reached a ceasefire with Hezbollah through the mediation of the United States and France. However, claiming that Hezbollah had not withdrawn its forces from southern Lebanon as agreed, Israel has maintained five strategic outposts in southern Lebanon and continued sporadic airstrikes.

Special Envoy Barrack has recently been traveling between Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, working hard to expand the Abraham Accords, the Middle East policy initiative promoted by President Donald Trump. The Abraham Accords refer to the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries in the Middle East.

Source: Yonhap News

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)

God, As we look at the unending problems, constant changes, and increasingly complicated situations among the Middle Eastern nations surrounding Jerusalem, we lift up our prayers to You.

In particular, although Israel has said that it may reduce the size of its troops stationed in southern Lebanon in response to the Lebanese government’s official declaration of Hezbollah’s disarmament—making it seem as if peace is gradually coming—in reality, we see with sorrow that the so-called Abraham Accords are a false peace, appearing as though they could resolve the world’s confusion.

We confess that the only one who will bring perfect peace to the world is Jesus Christ alone. Only the name of Jesus, our Savior, will bring peace to all nations.

Lord, even if the world calls false peace “peace,” may the remnant in Israel and Lebanon, along with the church and the global church, continue until the very end to proclaim and bear witness among all nations that our only Savior is Jesus alone!

And so, deliver Israel and Lebanon from the vain falsehoods of the world and from the lies disguised as peace. Make these two peoples into nations that do not cling to earthly things, but rather hope for and move toward the eternal Kingdom of God!