ISRAEL PREPARES FOR
AN ATTACK BY IRAN
ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES ARE SETTING UP CAMP IN THE
GOLAN HEIGHTS EXPECTING IMMINENT ATTACKS
JUNE 2018 / THE CHOSEN PEOPLE - 4
The Iranian Threat to Israel
The Iranian threat to Israel is no longer at work in the
shadows—previously engaging Israel in a de facto war via proxies
in Lebanon and Gaza—but could now amount to a direct
confrontation with the Jewish state.
For decades Iran has strengthened and supported enemies of
Israel—namely Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon—as
a way to oppose the existence of the Jewish state while increasing
Iranian influence in the Muslim world. But now, with an evergrowing
Iranian military presence in Syria, there is a likely possibility
that conflict between Israel and Iran could come about directly.
The rising tensions began on February 10, 2018, when an
Iranian drone carrying explosives penetrated Israeli airspace.
Although indirect confrontation between Israel and Iran is no
new revelation, this incident is significant because it indicates
that Tehran directly initiated the drone attack into Israel; effectively changing
engagement tactics they have employed for decades.
The Israeli military responded by shooting down the drone and striking
the Syrian T-4 air base from where it was launched, losing an Israeli F-16 jet
from Syrian ground fire in the process. Before dawn on April 9, 2018, Israel
once again targeted the T-4 complex with a missile raid, attempting to prevent
any future Iranian threats. According to an unnamed senior Israeli military
official, “It was the first time we Israel attacked live Iranian targets.”
Following Israel’s military response, top Iranian officials issued direct threats
against the Jewish state. Most notably, the head of Iran’s army, Abdolrahim
Mousavi, threatened to “annihilate Israel,” while the general of the Iranian
ground forces stated that a date had been set for the destruction of Israel.
With Iranian-backed terrorist groups in Gaza and Lebanon, and the
growing Iranian military presence in Syria, Israel is preparing to respond to any
potential military action taken by Iran.
1. www.brookings.edu/opinions/proxy-power-understanding-irans-use-of-terrorism/
2. iramcenter.org/en/iran-and-israel-face-off-in-syria-is-direct-confrontation-looming/
3. www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-drone-shot-down-in-northern-israel-in-february-was-armed-withexplosives/
4. www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/the-ongoing-israel-iran-proxy-war-in-syria
5. www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5225508,00.html
6. www.timesofisrael.com/idf-official-confirms-attack-in-syria-first-strike-on-live-iranian-targets/
7. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/22/iran-pledges-destroy-israel-within-25-years-tensions-rise/
8. www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/244550
9. www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2018/02/13/iran-and-israel-face-off-in-syria-as-if-itwasnt
complicated-enough/
10. Megan Sauter, “ Isaiah’s Signature Uncovered in Jerusalem: Evidence of the Prophet Isaiah? ” Bible
History Daily, February 22, 2018, (Accessed April 23, 2018) https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/
daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/prophet-isaiah-signature-jerusalem/
Missile Defense Project | CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
Isaiah 19:24-25
“God plans to make Egypt, Israel, and Iraq a
blessing to all the world.” This final announcement
seems to be more breathtaking than all of the
previous promises: These same three nations
who up to this point in history have been at
such terrible odds with each other and the great
disturbers of the peace of the rest of the world will
turn around and suddenly become a blessing on
earth (v. 24). What is more, God will bless each of
the three nations individually. He will call Egypt
“My people;” Assyria/ Iraq will be named “My
handiwork;” and Israel will be known by God
as “My inheritance,” v. 25). Those are the names
that had at one time or another been the exclusive
names for Israel, but now were being shared with
her former enemies!
We are familiar with the call of Abraham,
where God promised that he and his descendants
would be a blessing to all the nations of the earth
(Genesis 12:3), but now God promises something
similar to these three former bitter enemies who
will now be “thirds” together in the kingdom of
God. Amazing!
Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., “Israel and Her Neighbors: Isaiah 19” in Israel, the
Church and the Middle East: A Biblical Response to the Current Conflict
ed. Mitch Glaser and Darrell Bock (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2018) 43-44.