[TODAY'S PRAYER] RISING TENSIONS IN SYRIA... 19 KILLED IN US RETALIATORY AIRSTRIKE. . .
Updated: Jul 4, 2023
Amid fears of escalation, some point out that "the US airstrike is insufficient for deterrence against Iran." Tensions are rising in the Middle East as the U.S. military immediately responded to drone strikes on troops in Syria with bombing. U.S. President Joe Biden has repeatedly nailed down a tough response to protect his country's forces, and the death toll from retaliatory airstrikes on the Syrian side is close to 20.
Reuters reported on March 25 that the death toll at an Iranian-linked military facility in eastern Syria that the U.S. military carried out by the U.S. military has risen to 19, citing the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The dead reportedly included three Syrian soldiers, 3 pro-government militiamen and five non-Syrian militants.
Earlier, on the 23rd, a self-destruct drone attacked a coalition base facility in Hasaka, northeastern Syria, killing one American contractor and injuring five others, including a U.S. service member. The U.S. determined that the drone was Iranian and immediately bombed a facility used by Syrian militants under Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in eastern Syria. The IRGC is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
With twenty times the number of deaths on the U.S. side, it sent a strong message that it would not allow provocations to be allowed to stand. "Keep in mind that we can take a strong response to protect our people," President Biden said at a press conference during a visit to Canada the following day, on March 24th, "and that's exactly what happened last night," according to the New York Times (NYT). "The United States will continue to work to counter the threat of terrorism in the region," he said, stressing that "the United States does not seek conflict with Iran, make no mistakes."
But in the immediate aftermath of the retaliatory strikes, Iranian-backed Syrian militias again confronted them with rocket and drone attacks targeting coalition facilities, escalating tensions. The NYT reports that there are fears among U.S. officials that the incident could escalate into a large-scale war. Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said the day before, when asked by reporters whether he believed Iran was responsible for the deaths of Americans, "Iran is certainly supporting these groups (Syrian forces and militias)."
Syria has been in a serious civil war since 2011.
The Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad has the full support of Iran and Russia. Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute (MEI), a U.S. think tank, noted that "this retaliation by the U.S. military is not enough to deter Iran and its proxies, and Iran will continue to do so until it realizes that its attacks have unsustainable consequences."
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U.S. troops have been stationed in Syria since 2015 and have been working with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish militia in Syria, to combat remnants of the Islamic State, and President Biden has struck Syria several times since 2021 in connection with the conflict with Iran.
For the Father hath given unto the Son authority over all people, that he may give eternal life unto all whom thou hast given unto him: eternal life is to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent" (John 17:2,3).
Tensions are rising in the Middle East following a U.S. retaliatory strike against a suicide drone strike on a coalition base in Syria a few days ago. In particular, the conflict between Iran and the United States, which supports the Syrian army and Syrian militias, calls for more prayers for the Middle East, which is currently experiencing many difficulties.
I confess that Yeshua is the only solution to all these confrontations and conflicts. Because we do not know Yeshua, the only way for people to have eternal life, the world is plagued by endless wars. The God of love gave His Son authority over all people so that we might have eternal life. May the people of Iran, Syria, and America know of that great grace@
In the midst of the evil and sin, acting upon false beliefs because they do not know Yeshua, may the Holy Spirit work mightily to help us understand the truth that eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent.
May the grace of God, who has compassion, especially when they struggle in vain fasting during Ramadan, be conveyed to the wisdom of knowing Yeshua fully. May Syria, Iran, and America, be full of God's grace to destroy all foolish conflicts and bear witness to all the nations of the only true God and the One whom He has sent, Jesus Christ!
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