VFI News On the Brink of War with Hezbollah, New Barrage of Rockets from Lebanon

Join us for a gripping edition of VFI News as tensions soar in Gaza and the ominous threat of Hezbollah casts a shadow over Israel.

As Hezbollah's aggression intensifies and regional dynamics shift, the specter of conflict looms large.

Gain valuable insights into Iran's nuclear aspirations and the internal struggles within Israel's coalition.

Stay ahead of the curve with Liran Snyder as he navigates the intricate web of events shaping Israel's security landscape.

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Lebanon’s Hezbollah fired a fresh barrage of more than a dozen rockets into northern Israel on Wednesday, June 19, just hours after Israel warned that it could wipe out the Iran-backed militant group should ‘total war’ break out.

Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, and Israel have been trading near-daily fire since the Gaza war was triggered by the Palestinian militant group’s October 7 attack on southern Israel. But ongoing clashes have seemingly riled Israeli officials in recent weeks, with thousands of Israelis still living in temporary accommodation after being evacuated from their homes near the northern border months ago.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz had warned Hezbollah on Tuesday that it would be destroyed in the event of a ‘total war’ and said Tel-Aviv is considering ramping up hostilities.

On Wednesday, approximately 15 projectiles were identified from Lebanon toward the area of Kiryat Shmona, several of which were intercepted by IDF aerial defense array, the Israeli military said in a statement. “IDF artillery struck the sources of fire,” it said, adding the incoming fire did not cause any casualties. The military said its warplanes also struck a Hezbollah military structure in the area of Tyre and infrastructure in Khiam in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, a day before, the Northern Command Commander, Major General Uri Gordin, and the Head of the Operations Directorate, Major General Oded Basiuk, conducted a joint plans approval and situation assessment in the Northern Command.

As part of the situation assessment, operational plans for an attack in Lebanon were presented and approved, and decisions were made to further accelerate the preparations by ground forces. (DM / VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for taking care of Your children and protecting us from the barrage of rockets fired from Hezbollah on Wednesday. We pray in Yeshua’s name for the situation in the north, for all the displaced citizens to return to their homes, and we ask that an all-out war does not erupt. We pray that the situation is peacefully resolved and that Lebanon manages to take care of Hezbollah by itself, dismantle it, and bring it to justice.”

The articles included in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Vision for Israel. We try to provide accurate reporting on news pertinent to Israel, the Middle East, the diaspora, and Jewish issues around the world—and we hope that you find it both informative and useful for intercessory prayer.

Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah delivered an address at a memorial ceremony on Wednesday, June 19, for Hezbollah commander Sami Talib Abdullah (Abu Talib), who was eliminated last week, during which he threatened Israel as well as its allies.

“The Lebanon front prevented enemy forces from participating in Gaza, some of which were elite forces because the enemy fears that the resistance (Hezbollah) will invade the Galilee, which remains on the table if the confrontation develops,” Nasrallah threatened.

The senior terrorist claimed that Israel does not acknowledge its losses on the northern front so as not to put pressure on the government and Netanyahu. He noted that among the achievements of Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel is “the displacement of settlers, and the disruption of industry, agriculture, and tourism in the north because of the status it represents.”

Later in his address, the Hezbollah leader warned Cyprus not to assist Israel: “We have information that the enemy is conducting maneuvers in Cyprus, in Cypriot territory, and airports. It (Israel) believes that if its airports are targeted, it will use Cypriot airports and facilities.”

“Therefore, the Cypriot government must know that by opening Cypriot airports and bases for war on Lebanon, we will deal with Cyprus as if it were part of the war.” (INN / VFI News)

“A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.” - Psalm 91:7-10

A former hostage of Hamas, Ada Sagi, 75, has confirmed that she was held by kidnappers in a hospital in the Gaza Strip before her release. She was freed from captivity during a week-long truce in November.

Speaking to British media on Wednesday, June 19, Sagi said she was moved between several locations in Gaza during her time there. After 49 days in captivity, Sagi said she was told to her disbelief, “You are going home.”

She was put in a car with other hostages heading to the Rafah Border Crossing with Egypt, but after something went wrong, they were taken to what she believes was Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. “People say that they are not involved,” Sagi said of the Palestinian hospital staff. “They’re involved… and getting money for each of us.”

The British media outlet published a denial from hospital director Dr. Atef al-Hoot. The IDF carried out a raid against Hamas in the area of the Nasser Hospital in late February, with the military saying that it captured some 200 terror operatives who were holed up at the medical center.

The IDF has operated in hospitals in several instances during the war, offering evidence of their repeated use by Gaza terror groups to stage operations, as well as to hold hostages. Though hospitals are protected sites in war under international law, they lose their protected status if used for military purposes. (TOI / VFI News)

“God, we pray for all the hostages held by Hamas, both former and current, and we ask that You protect their mental and physical health and give them the strength to overcome the immense torture they are facing daily. We pray that the terrorists’ leverage of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure stops. We also pray for the immediate release of all the remaining hostages in Yeshua’s name, in the hope that they will be soon reunited with their loving families.”

More than 50 synagogues in the state of Florida have received bomb threats, American media reported, resulting in sweeping searches and precautionary evacuations.

The incidents took place on Tuesday, June 18, according to the report. In Coral Gables, police said they swiftly assessed the threat and determined it lacked credibility.

In Broward County, according to the news outlet, authorities said a synagogue in Hollywood was evacuated and there were no injuries or arrests. State officials were also investigating the threat.

Meanwhile, in Palm Beach County a man was arrested in Boca Raton and accused of posting threats on social media. Police said the man, identified as 26-year-old Paul Morris, faced charges of writing threats of mass shootings or terrorism.

Florida, like other states, has seen a surge in antisemitic incidents since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. In March, a Florida man was sentenced to six months in prison for leaving a threatening voicemail with the World Jewish Congress two weeks after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. (INN / VFI News)

“Lord, we thank You for being the shield and refuge of our people all over the world, and for not allowing any grave antisemitic incident to occur. We pray in Yeshua’s name that You eliminate any attacks and hate crimes and we hope that You continue to guide the national authorities all around the world into protecting our people efficiently.”

Experience the resilience and fear faced by residents living on the Lebanese border in northern Galilee, where bomb shelters are a crucial necessity in times of attacks. Join us as we witness the installation of new shelters in public areas like bus stops and children's playgrounds, providing protection and hope for these brave families. The support from donors and local businesses makes a significant impact on the safety and well-being of these communities.

Nasser Kanaani, the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, strongly condemned the Canadian government for classifying the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

Kanaani described the decision as a “hostile act that is contrary to the accepted norms and principles of international law, including the principle of sovereign equality and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, and a clear example of a violation of Iran’s national sovereignty.”

He added this “irresponsible and provocative move is a continuation of the wrong path that the Canadian government has taken over the past decade under the influence of warmongers, real violators of human rights, and the main perpetrators of terrorism.”

Kanaani emphasized that the “disgusting act of the Canadian government against the IRGC will have no impact on the production of legitimate and deterrent power and the increase in the level and scope of the grandeur of this honorable force born from the Iranian nation.”

Lastly, he declared that the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its right to a proportionate and reciprocal response to this action that “contravenes international law and is against the Iranian nation and government.”

Canada had already listed the IRGC’s overseas arm, the Quds Force, as a terrorist group. It is important to note that once a group is placed on the terror list, police can charge anyone financially or materially supporting the group and banks can freeze assets. (INN / VFI News)

“Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before Him.” - Ecclesiastes 8:12

Just over half of Arab Israelis (51.6%) feel that the prolonged war against Hamas in Gaza has given rise to a sense of “shared destiny” between Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel, according to a recent survey by the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University.

The poll, which was presented at TAU’s conference “The Future of Israel” on Wednesday, June 19, found that a slight majority of Arabs across religious denominations (Druze, Christians, and Muslims) identify with that statement.

The poll was based on a representative sample of 502 Arab citizens of Israel above the age of 18 and was initiated by the Konrad Adenauer Program for Jewish-Arab Cooperation, supported by the German Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

Asked about who should run Gaza the day after the war, most respondents (58.5%) said that the administration should be in the hands of Palestinians and 34.4% said that an external non-Palestinian body should govern the coastal enclave.

As for the conflict’s impact on the personal lives of Arab Israelis, 67.8% of respondents reported that they now find themselves in a relatively good economic situation, in stark contrast to the early days of the war. In November, 64.9% said their finances had been negatively affected by the war. (TOI / VFI News)

The percentage of Israeli 15-year-olds who excel at “creative thinking” is among the highest in the world, according to an international study released on Tuesday, June 18.

The study also found deep gaps in creative thinking abilities between secular and religious students in Hebrew-speaking schools and between students in the Hebrew school system and the Arabic-language school system in general.

The study, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 Creative Thinking Assessment, was carried out in 2022 among 63 countries as a supplement to the main PISA study, which examined the mathematics, reading, and science abilities of 15-year-olds in 81 countries.

The assessment found that the overall percentage of Israeli students rated as “excellent” in creative thinking was 30%, as compared to the OECD average of 27%, putting Israel in 11th place out of the 63 participating countries.

The study also found that among Hebrew speakers 35% were rated “excellent,” one of the highest rates in the study, and that only 11% of Arabic speakers were similarly rated. (TOI / VFI News)

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” - 1 Timothy 4:12

Evidence of the Gallus Revolt, the last Jewish resistance against Roman rule was uncovered in Lod on Sunday, June 16. The dramatic discovery – a large public building, in whose foundations a 1650-year-old hoard was hidden, will be publicized in a new book commensurate with the annual Central Israel Region Archaeological Conference, open to the public free of charge.

The conference will be held in the Eretz Yisrael Museum in Tel Aviv and jointly hosted by Tel Aviv University, Bar Ilan University, and the Israel Antiquities Authority.

An excavation on Nordau Street in Lod, led by the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Lod Municipality, uncovered a public building from the Late Roman—Early Byzantine period that suffered violent destruction.

Its foundations held 94 silver and bronze coins dating 221-354 AC, which were deliberately placed there – in the hopes of returning to collect them when the situation calms. The latest coins are dated from the time of the Gallus Revolt (351-354 AC).

Though written evidence is sparse regarding this revolt, texts are reporting that major Jewish communities such as Lod, Zipori, and Tiberias were destroyed by the forces of Roman Ceasar Flavius Constantinus Gallus.

Among the various finds in the building were impressive stone and marble artifacts; Greek, Hebrew, and Latin inscriptions, and one inscription bearing the name of a Jewish man from a priestly family, which is still being studied. These inscriptions, coupled with the complete absence of pig bones from the bone assemblage uncovered on this site, attest to this building’s association with the Jewish community. (YNet / VFI News)

“The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages), and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath.” - 1 Chronicles 8:12-13

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

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