VFI News About 1,700 Dead, 3,400 Injured in Myanmar Quake; Hezbollah Fires at Galilee, the IDF Retaliates

About 1,700 Dead, 3,400 Injured in Myanmar Quake; Hezbollah Fires at Galilee, the IDF Retaliates . . . https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_6r5VLAN1cQ

Did you know that according to the Bible, there is a new year that usually goes undetected? According to Exodus 12:2, the Biblical new year occurs on the 1st of Nisan, which was Sunday. We wish all of our readers a prosperous year! May You lean on the Lord even more and receive all the blessings He wishes to bestow upon you and your families. We pray that you will enjoy health, the joy and peace of God which surpasses all understanding, and that you will honor Him daily with your lives. As we prepare for Passover, may He work in your hearts, satisfy all your needs, and give you unwavering faith, and boldness to proclaim His Name and all the fruits of the Spirit!

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. - Exodus 12:1-3

The 7.7 magnitude quake in Myanmar was the strongest in the world since the deadly quake that hit Turkey and Syria in 2023. In Bangkok, approximately 1,000 km from the epicenter, a 33-story skyscraper that was under construction collapsed. 

The earthquake, one of Myanmar's strongest in a century, left around 1,700 people dead, 3,400 injured and over 300 missing as of Sunday, March 30, the military government said. 

A joint team of experts from the IDF and the Israeli Ministry of Defense landed in Bangkok on Sunday morning, following the earthquake. 

The team consists of engineering and civil affairs officers from the National Rescue Unit of the IDF Home Front Command and is coordinated by the International Cooperation Unit.  

Upon its arrival, the team began its mission by conducting a situational assessment and sharing technological expertise with the Thai authorities. The strong earthquake struck 10 kilometers underground near Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar. (INN/VFI News) 

“Dear God, we pray in Yeshua’s Name for the thousands of people who were injured due to the massive earthquake. May You heal them completely, restore their mental health, and engulf them in Your unfailing love. We pray for the people who lost family members and we send our sincerest condolences to them. We also pray for the missing, that You help the search teams find them. We also lift up the Israeli team that went to help in the aftermath of the earthquake. Please protect each person on the team, give them strength to accomplish the mission they have set to do, and make them a light amid this disaster.”

Red Alert sirens were sounded around 8:00 am Friday morning, March 28, in some of Israel's northern border communities — Margaliot, Misgav Am, Kiryat Shmona, and Tel Hai.  

The IDF said that two launches by Hezbollah terrorists from Lebanese territory were detected. One launch was intercepted and the other fell into Lebanese territory.  

Magen David Adom (MDA) said that no calls were received regarding casualties as a result of Hezbollah launches.  

Defense Minister Israel Katz responded to the shooting from Lebanon: "Kiryat Shmona is treated like Beirut. If there is no peace in Kiryat Shmona and the Galilee communities, there will be no peace in Beirut either." 

"The Lebanese government bears direct responsibility for any shooting at the Galilee. We will not allow a return to the reality of October 7th. We will ensure the security of the residents of the Galilee and will act forcefully against any threat." (INN/VFI News)

“Dear Lord, we thank You for always protecting the ones You love from the enemies no matter how numerous and persistent they are. We praise You and we are grateful for Who You are and for everything You are doing for us. We pray in Yeshua’s Name that You will not allow any of the terror groups in Lebanon to continue  their attacks on Israel, restore the peace in Galilee, and help it prosper.”

On Friday, March 28, the IDF struck Hezbollah command centers, terrorist infrastructure sites, launchers, and terrorists in southern Lebanon, said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.  

The strikes followed the missile attack on Kiryat Shmona on Friday morning. “The projectile attack from Lebanon toward the Upper Galilee area in northern Israel this morning [Friday], constitutes a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and poses a direct threat to the civilians of the State of Israel,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.  

“The State of Lebanon bears responsibility for upholding the agreement. The IDF will operate in order to remove any threat to the civilians of the State of Israel,” it stressed. Earlier on Friday, Israel began conducting strikes on targets in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut, Hezbollah's stronghold in the Lebanese capital. 

The IDF confirmed that it struck a terrorist infrastructure site used to store UAVs by Hezbollah's Aerial Unit (127) in the area of Dahieh.  

“The Hezbollah terrorist organization systematically embeds its terrorist infrastructure amidst the Lebanese civilian population, a clear example of Hezbollah's cynical exploitation of Lebanese civilians as human shields,” it said. (INN/VFI News)

“Dear God, we pray in Yeshua’s Name for all the Israeli civilians who are being attacked by Hezbollah. Please protect them and help them return to their homes and live safely in the land You have given us. We also pray for the innocent Lebanese who are immensely affected by the Hezbollah terrorist organization. We pray that You bring permanent peace between our nations and that You will equip Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah and bring its leaders to justice once and for all. We pray for the repentance of the wicked and for Your Will to be done by all people and in all circumstances.”

Odai al-Rabei, a 22-year-old Gazan, was abducted, tortured, and murdered by al-Qassam terrorists, as per Rabei’s family. Some reports even said his body was dragged in the streets until it was finally returned to the family home.  However, this series of events quickly escalated into a heated debate between those who were appalled by the act – and some Hamas loyalists who justified the terror group’s actions while accusing Rabei of treason.  

Videos circulated showing graphic images of Rabei’s body, which appeared to have been mutilated all over, indicating he was tortured. 

Other videos showed Rabei’s funeral procession held in Gaza on Sunday, March 30, in which thousands of participants declared in rage: “In spirit and blood we’ll redeem you, Odai!” “Allahu akbar,” as well as “Out, out, out! Hamas out!” 

The family also issued a statement on video, accusing the killers of being “a sinful, rogue group affiliated with the Qassam Brigades,” adding that “they dragged him and tortured him to death with all kinds of hard tools…They killed him treacherously.”  

One blogger lamented Rabei’s death. “For a year and a half, Odai survived Merkava tank launchers, F-16 missiles, and complete annihilation. In the end, he fell as a martyr at the hands of the movement that claims to be in Gaza to defend him.” (JPost/VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we pray that You comfort Odai al-Rabei’s family and bring them close to You and Your Son amid their trials. We send our heartfelt condolences to them and we pray that You erase from their memories all pictures of their tortured family member they have seen. We pray fervently in Yeshua’s Name that You prevent Hamas from abusing more people. Please, destroy this organization and help all of the innocent civilians live in peace and communion with one another.”

Explore the hidden connections between East and West—with this unique musical experience that spans across Israel and the nations, while blending Middle Eastern and country-western musical styles as well.

President Donald Trump on Sunday, March 30, threatened Iran with bombings and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program.  

In a telephone interview with American media, Trump said U.S. and Iranian officials were talking but did not elaborate. 

"If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said. "But there's a chance that if they don't make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago."  

In his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. 

Trump also reimposed sweeping U.S. sanctions. Since then the Islamic Republic has far surpassed the agreed limits in its escalating program of uranium enrichment. Tehran has so far rebuffed Trump's warning to make a deal or face military consequences and has even made threats against the U.S. (NM/VFI News) 

“Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy.” - Proverbs 12:20

Iran’s president said on Sunday, March 30, that the Islamic Republic rejected direct negotiations with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program, offering Tehran’s first response to a letter President Donald Trump sent to the country’s supreme leader, according to American media.      

President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s response, delivered via the sultanate of Oman, left open the possibility of indirect negotiations with Washington. The White House, the State Department, and other officials offered no immediate reaction to the announcement. 

Meanwhile, earlier on Friday the speaker of the Iranian parliament said Tehran would strike US bases in the region if Washington follows through on its warning of military consequences for Iran in the absence of a new nuclear deal. 

"If the Americans attack the sanctity of Iran, the entire region will blow up like a spark in an ammunition dump,” Parliament Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf said. "Their bases and those of their allies will not be safe," he added.

Iran has no effective air defenses after they were largely destroyed by Israel in retaliation for ballistic missile attacks last year. Iran is possibly gambling that Trump would not dare follow through on his recent threats of military action. (BB/VFI News)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was recorded in a mosque wishing for the end of "Zionist Israel," against the backdrop of tensions between Ankara and Jerusalem.  

"We see what is happening in Palestine. Allah will destroy Zionist Israel for his holy name. We must see what is happening there and therefore we must unite and be strong and be brothers here" said Erdogan.  

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said: "Erdoğan the tyrant exposed his anti-Semitic face. Erdoğan is a danger to the region, and to his own people, as has just been proven in recent days. We hope that the members of the NATO alliance will understand this, and the sooner the better." 

Erdogan's tone has hardened recently at a time when protests in the country are escalating due to his regime's decision to arrest Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.  

The arrest of the Istanbul mayor, the most popular opposition figure in Turkey, sparked massive protests, mainly in the major cities. During the demonstrations, thousands were arrested, including journalists and foreign reporters, some of whom were deported from the country. (INN/VFI News) 

“But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, If they can save you in the time of your trouble.” - Jeremiah 2:28

A majority of Israelis say that they do not trust the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a poll aired Friday, March 28, on Israeli media, with most of the public also opposed to the policy on the hostages and disapproving of the budget passed last week.

Asked if they trust the current Netanyahu government, 70% of respondents said they do not, compared to 27% who said they do. Even among coalition voters, just 51% said they trust the government, compared to 36% who said they do not.  

When asked if they support a deal to return all the hostages in return for an end to the war, 69% said they do, compared with 21% who said they oppose it and 10% who said they don’t know. Among coalition voters, 54% said they support a deal, compared to 32% who oppose it. Among opposition voters, 86% said they support the deal, compared with 9% who said they do not.  

Netanyahu’s government has long refused any suggestion of ending the war in exchange for the return of the 59 remaining hostages, saying the fighting can only end when the Hamas terror group is removed from power and can no longer pose a threat to Israel. Of those 59 hostages, 24 are still believed to be alive. 

The government also refused to hold substantive negotiations on a potential second phase of the ceasefire deal. The second phase would have seen the release of the remaining living hostages in exchange for a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. (TOI/VFI News)

“Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles; The Lord came down for me against the mighty.” - Judges 5:13 

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

Want to see more from VFI? Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visionforisrael and hit “like” if you like us!