VFI News Hezbollah Doubles Attack Rate; US Deploys Troops as Iran Rejects Ceasefire

Israel-Iran war escalation continues—and the risk of a wider conflict is growing.

Could this war expand into Lebanon as tensions rise across the region?

In this week’s VFI News update, we break down the latest developments in the Israel-Iran war, including continued IDF and US strikes on Iran’s military infrastructure and the ongoing threat from Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Despite significant losses, Iran’s regime shows no signs of backing down. Missile attacks on Israeli cities continue, while Hezbollah maintains pressure from the north—raising concerns that this conflict could expand into a broader regional war.

At the same time, global tensions are increasing as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz impact energy markets and the cost of living worldwide. Inside Israel, daily life remains under strain, with schools closed, reservists mobilized, and communities repeatedly running to shelters.

We also explore the growing complexity behind the scenes—including differing strategic goals between the United States and Israel, and what that could mean for how and when this war ends.

As the situation develops, signs of internal pressure within Iran are beginning to emerge—potentially shaping what comes next.

#IsraelIranWar #MiddleEastWar #WarUpdate #Geopolitics #BreakingNews

Hezbollah launched more than 600 rockets, mortars, and drones at Israel and IDF forces in southern Lebanon over a single 24-hour period ending on Wednesday, March 26, roughly double the terror group’s previous high of around 300 aerial threats during the 2023–2024 conflict. The vast majority of the projectiles targeted IDF troops holding positions inside or advancing within southern Lebanon.

The massive barrage represented a dramatic escalation from the general average of around 100 attacks per day during the current war. The spike occurred against the backdrop of intensifying speculation about a possible end to the Israel-Iran war, even as Israel signaled its intention to continue airstrikes against Hezbollah and maintain its ground operation in southern Lebanon.

Military analysts assessed that Hezbollah’s surge in attacks is likely not sustainable over time but may be an attempt to pressure Israel and the United States into a multi-front ceasefire or to compel an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Top Israeli political and military officials have publicly discussed holding southern Lebanon up to the Litani River for an indefinite period to force Hezbollah’s disarmament. (JPost/VFI News)

“Dear Lord, we pray in Yeshua’s Name for the safety of every IDF soldier serving in southern Lebanon and along all our borders. Please strengthen and protect them, give them wisdom and alertness, and bring them home safely. We ask that You shield Israeli communities from the relentless rocket attacks and comfort those who have been shaken by the terror. We pray that the enemies of Israel will see their schemes come to nothing, and that You will turn their hearts toward repentance. Bring lasting peace to the north and to all of Israel, Father, and let Your will be done.”

The United States is positioning ground-capable forces in the Middle East after Iran rejected a US-backed ceasefire proposal on Wednesday, March 25. The Pentagon has moved roughly 1,000 paratroopers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, including its 1st Brigade Combat Team—a core component of the military’s rapid-response Immediate Response Force—along with several thousand Marines and sailors assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his government was reviewing the US 15-point ceasefire plan but was not engaged in negotiations. Press TV cited an Iranian five-point counterproposal that included a demand for war reparations and continued Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump said on Thursday, March 26, that Iran was “begging” for a deal but was afraid to say so publicly.

Military experts say the deployments are not a precursor to a large-scale invasion but instead position the US for targeted, short-duration missions along Iran’s southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized, “The president likes to maintain options at his disposal. It’s the Pentagon’s job to provide those options to the commander in chief.” (FOX/VFI News)

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" – Psalm 27:1

Investor and television personality Kevin O’Leary said on Wednesday, March 25, that removing Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz would transform global markets, predicting multinational policing of the waterway similar to the governance of the Panama or Suez Canals. About 20 percent of the world’s crude oil and natural gas passes through the Iran-controlled strait, which remains effectively closed to US-affiliated vessels.

O’Leary’s comments come as gas prices have surged nationwide by more than one dollar since President Trump launched the war on Iran nearly a month ago. The national gas average stands at $3.98 per gallon for regular fuel, up from $2.94 before the conflict. O’Leary predicted that once the Strait reopens, oil prices would drop to the mid-$70s and the effect would reach the pump within about two weeks.

O’Leary said the potential restructuring of governance over the Strait of Hormuz to keep it open permanently would provide worldwide security and enormous economic benefit. He acknowledged the human cost of war but argued that investors are focused on the long-term strategic outcome. “The big vision here is to finally stop this problem we’ve had for 60 years, and I really like that outcome,” he said. (FOX/VFI News)

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." – Jeremiah 29:11

Israel’s National Security Council on Wednesday, March 25, called on all Israelis living or traveling abroad during the upcoming Passover holiday to take increased security precautions due to the heightened threat posed by Iran and its proxies. The NSC reaffirmed its assessment that the Iranian regime is working more vigorously than ever to carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets around the world.

The NSC warned that any concentration of Israelis or Jews abroad during Passover and other upcoming holidays, including Shavuot, represents a potential target for attack by terrorist elements. It urged Israelis to avoid sharing real-time travel details on social media, to stay away from unsecured events identified with Israel or Judaism, and recommended that Passover events not be held in open or public spaces.

The statement cited recent antisemitic attacks, including the torching of a car in Antwerp, Belgium, on Tuesday, March 24, and the firebombing of four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community organization in London on Monday, March 23. Senior NSC officials said they have never seen Iranian efforts on this scale to strike Jewish and Israeli sites abroad. Specific elevated-risk warnings were also issued for countries in Asia, the Caucasus, and the Gulf region. (TOI/VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, as Your people prepare to celebrate Passover—the feast of liberation—we ask You to surround every Jewish community around the world with Your divine protection. Shield every synagogue, every Seder table, and every gathering from those who plot violence and terror. We pray that every evil scheme will be exposed and thwarted before it can be carried out. Strengthen the security services of every nation to guard the Jewish communities within their borders. Let Your angel encamp around those who fear You, Father, and deliver them from all harm. In Yeshua’s mighty Name we pray.”

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Israel issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on Wednesday, March 25, indicating that flight restrictions at Ben-Gurion International Airport are likely to remain in place until at least April 16. The decision is based on an ongoing assessment of the security situation, with Israel under persistent missile and rocket fire from Iran and Hezbollah, including multiple alerts near the airport in central Israel.

The NOTAM effectively signals that all foreign airlines that have not already cancelled their flights before that date are likely to do so. The restriction has severely impacted Israeli travelers, particularly ahead of the Passover holiday period, when many families typically fly abroad. Some Israelis have been using land crossings with Jordan and Egypt as alternatives.

Israeli officials acknowledged that if the security situation changes, the restrictions could be lifted earlier. However, there is also a possibility that conditions will remain unchanged, and the restrictions could be extended beyond April 16. The ongoing closure has compounded the economic toll of the war, with airlines scrambling to reroute and cancel operations across the region. (JPost/VFI News)

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." – Psalm 91:1

Small business owners across Israel are reducing hours or shutting down entirely as the war with Iran enters its fourth week, with missiles raining down and schools remaining closed. At the Bezalel Market in central Tel Aviv, longtime stallholder Erez Davidov, 36, sat waiting for shoppers who were nowhere to be seen. The period before Passover normally marks the start of his busy season, but the conflict has emptied the streets.

Café owner Zahi Zilberlicht, whose neighborhood in Tel Aviv was damaged by a nearby missile strike, said turnover has dropped by 50 percent. He reported that many businesses around him have no customers at all, and others have seen revenue slump by 50 to 70 percent. The Finance Ministry estimated the economy lost approximately NIS 9.4 billion ($3 billion) in the first week of the war alone, with ongoing weekly losses of about NIS 4.5 billion ($1.4 billion).

The government reopened workplaces at the end of last week to ease the economic toll, but the education system remained shuttered, leaving parents unable to work because they cannot leave young children at home. Self-employed workers have been hit hardest: more than half reported that their income has not recovered to pre-war levels, and many say the proposed government compensation framework is insufficient. (TOI/VFI News)

“Dear God, we lift up every shopkeeper, café owner, farmer, and self-employed worker in Israel who is watching their livelihood slip away under the weight of this war. We pray that You provide for every family struggling to pay their bills and that no one goes hungry or loses hope. Please give the government the wisdom to act swiftly with meaningful aid and strengthen the spirit of resilience among the Israeli people. We trust that You are the provider of all good things and that You will sustain Your people through this valley. In Yeshua’s Name.”

An investigation has found that British-branded private schools operating in Qatar are using state-approved textbooks that omit the Holocaust, contain hostile content about Jews, and direct students to read Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.” Schools including Sherborne, King’s College Taunton, and Royal Grammar School Guildford are required under Qatari law to teach subjects such as Arabic, Islamic studies, and Qatari history using government-approved materials.

The 2025 editions of the history textbooks make no mention of the Holocaust in chapters covering Nazi Germany and World War II. One Islamic studies textbook for 13-year-old students describes Jews as “evil” for rejecting Islam in the 7th century. Another teaches opposition to peace efforts with Israel and rejects conceding any part of what it calls “Islamic land.” A former teacher, who requested anonymity, said staff were not allowed to mention Jews in class materials.

Jewish organizations sharply criticized the findings. The Association of Jewish Refugees called the use of such materials “morally indefensible” and an insult to the memory of Holocaust victims. The Campaign Against Antisemitism called on the schools to withdraw from Qatar entirely. Despite promoting themselves as offering the best of British education, the schools operate under Qatari regulations that require them to uphold national identity and religious values. (YNN/VFI News)

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." – Matthew 5:10

Twenty-five new immigrants from the United States and Canada landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on Wednesday, March 25, while 15 additional Olim already in Israel finalized their citizenship the same day, completing a total of 40 new arrivals in a single day despite the ongoing war with Iran. The group, assisted by Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Jewish Agency, ranged in age from 21 to 96.

Amanda Schuster, a 34-year-old immigrant from Baltimore, acknowledged the fear surrounding the move but said it did not shake her decision. “I wasn’t deterred. I was even more ready to come,” she said. “I just want to be part of the country.” Eli Schwartz, a 30-year-old lawyer from Minneapolis, said the war actually motivated him further. Since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, more than 830 aliyah files have been opened by Jewish North Americans.

Jewish Agency Chairman Major General (Res.) Doron Almog said each oleh brings not only personal hope but a nationwide moral boost. Since the beginning of 2026, approximately 500 North American Olim have made aliyah, and another 110 are expected during April. Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer called the continued immigration during wartime a powerful source of strength for the State of Israel. (INN/VFI News)

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

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