Beirut under attack, what to do?
Last Sunday, Beirut was bombed. Our partner in Lebanon says: “Yet another attack on the Lebanese capital despite the ceasefire agreement in mid-April. Although the attack came without warning, in a way it was not unexpected. In recent weeks, Hezbollah and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and along the Israel-Lebanon border have been fighting each other continuously. Amid this fighting, the ceasefire is widely regarded as a ceasefire in name only. Lebanon is still in a state of war and the south of the country is still a bloody front where dozens of people are killed and wounded every day.”
Elsewhere in the Middle East, tensions remain high. After weeks of relative calm triggered by a parallel ceasefire agreement between the US, Israel and Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Oman came under fire. That same day, the US and Iran also claimed to have carried out attacks on each other's navies. A few days later, US President Donald Trump threatened to resume attacks on Iran, amid conflicting signals about the end of the war and the progress of negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Prayer for peace
Our partner: “All these developments are keeping the region in suspense. Here in Lebanon and across the Middle East, churches and believers are in the crossfire and uncertainty just like everyone else. Churches in these countries have been affected by the war in the Middle East in different and similar ways, but their prayers have one common theme: peace. Having endured the dangers of recent weeks, they pray and hope that the ceasefire will hold while world leaders negotiate a lasting peace agreement.
Here in Lebanon, emergency assistance is unchanged to meet the humanitarian and spiritual needs of people affected by ongoing hostilities.” According to the UN, more than 1 million people are currently displaced in Lebanon. Our partner continues to shelter families unable to return to their homes in southern Lebanon. It is working with local partners to provide essential assistance to people in need.
Commitment
“Amid ongoing conflict and tension, we continue to trust in the Lord. He is the one who guides and sustains us. We want to be the hands and feet of the global body of Christ in the land of Lebanon. Here right now there is a lot of pain, a lot of need, a lot of spiritual hunger too. We ask Christians in places of peace to enable us to help. And with everything, let us pray together with our brothers and sisters in the region that peace will prevail.”
