Tension in the Middle East

[Barbara]

ME war tensions mount over Gaza-bound "enemy ships". Hizballah pledges reprisal

Ominous clouds gathered over the Mediterranean Thursday, June 24 after Israel announced that ships bound for Gaza would be deemed "enemy vessels" and halted by its navy by whatever means were necessary. Hizballah shot back with a threat of violent retaliation, while Israel's northern commander warned that the IDF was prepared to deal with threats from Lebanon by "appropriate means".
     With two ships, one Lebanese and one Iranian, already at sea, the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri was reported by debkafile's intelligence sources as coupling his public support for the sea campaign to break Israel's blockade of Gaza with a quiet bid to stall it.
     He privately asked Cypriot President Demetris Christofias, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and the Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to deny Lebanese ships bound for Gaza permission to deop anchor, refuel or load provisions at their ports, in order to prevent them from proceeding to Gaza.
     Hariri explained that he feared the flotilla campaign to break the Israeli blockade would precipitate a new Middle East war.

          Cont'd...

[nChrist]

Hello Sister Barbara,

First, thanks for another great article and sharing with us. If this is the beginning of the times mentioned in Bible Prophecy, they will get their war. It certainly appears there is determination for a showdown by many foretold in Bible Prophecy. This might or might not be the time - only God knows. If this is the time, the world is in for a rough and downhill ride into chaos, bloodshed, and evil.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Jeremiah 17:7 ASV  7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah, and whose trust Jehovah is.

[Barbara]

Amen, Brother Tom! My other computer went 'out of business' after I posted - there's even more to this article.

Cont'd...
     Last week, the freighter "julia," docked at the North Lebanese port of Tripoli was denied permission to head to Gaza Port. Refusing to be put off, the activists decided to sail first to Cyprus and then head for Gaza. Permission was granted by the Lebanese Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi Wednesday June 23.

     On Thursday, June 24, Israel repeated its warning that ships trying to breach its blockade against the Gaza Strip would be deemed "enemy vessels." The Israeli Navy has been instructed to employ every available means to bar their access to Gaza's shore. Israel OC Northern Command Gen. Gadi Eizenkot said: "The Lebanese side is issuing threats against Israel and we are confident that the Israeli army is preparing to confront these threats in an appropriate manner."

     He was referring to Hizballah's announcement: "We will not stand by idly if Israel attacks ships bound for Gaza. Detainees taken into Israeli custory (aboard those vessels) will be deemed prisoners of war who must be released".

      As the climate over the Mediterranean heats up, two ships are either at sea or hours away from embarkation - the Julia from Lebanon and an Iranian ship, which is said to be making for the Suez Canal from the Persian Gulf port of Khorramshahr.

     In his calls to the Greek, Turkish, Cypriot and Maltese leaders, the Lebanese prime minister admitted that the embarkation of the pro-Palestinian vessels  from his ports violates UA Resolution 1701  enforcing the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire which ended the 2006 war, but he was helpless to stop them because they were backed by powerful elements. Hariai did not say who they were, but they were understood to be Syria and Hizballah.

     He stressed that more urgent issues confronted Beirut than the Gaza blockade, such as the Shaaba Farms on the Hermon slopes, which he said, "Hizballah only talks about leberating but has not fired a single shell." Hariri made it clear that by sponsoring the ships for Gaza, Hizballah is bringing Lebanon dangerously close to a clash with Israel.

Unlike the May 31 episode, when the activists who resisted Israel's raid of a Turkish ship to prevent it from reaching Gaza were unknown quantities, this time, on Thursday, Israeli intelligence sources released the identities of the ships' owners and the organizations mounting the expeditions.

The Lebanese "Julia" belongs to a Syrian shipping firm headed by a cousin of President Bashar Assad, who made it available to Hizballah and Palestinian terrorist organizations, including Hamas.

Therefore, Israel's designation of these ships and those of Iran as enemy vessels meets the case.

From Washington, debkafile reports that when Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak met US Secy of State Hillary Clinton on June 22, he voiced extreme concern about the Lebanese Prime Minister's inability to rein in Hezballah. Because of this, the situation in the region could rapidly deteriorate, said Barak.

Right after the meeting, the US issued a statement about the "aid" flotillas saying, "Direct delivery by sea is neither appropriate nor responsible, and certainly not effective, under the circumstances. There is no need for unnecessary confrontations, and we, along with our partners in the Quartet, call on all parties to act responsibility in meeting the needs of the people of Gaza."

debka.com/article/8869/

     

[Barbara]

Iran activists cancel Gaza aid flotilla 'due to Israeli threats'

Seperate Iranian whip heads to Gaza via Caspian Sea after Egypt denies Israel request to prevent vessels in Suez Canal

By Haaretz Service

One of the organizers of an Iranian aid flotilla that was to sail to Gaza in efforts to break Israel's naval blockade on the territory, announced Thursday that the event has been cancelled due to 'Israeli threats.'
     A separate Iranian ship carrying 60 Iranian activists was being prepared to sail to Gaza, according to Army Radio. This after the Lebanese media repeated several days ago that Egypt has denied Israel's request to prevent Iranian ships from passing through the Suez Canal toward Egypt.
     Meanwhile, Thursday the US State Dept issued a statement calling the aid flotilla to Gaza irresponsible.
   "Mechanisms exist for the transfer of humanitarian assistance to Gaza by member states and groups that want to do so", the US State Dept said regarding Lebanese plans to ship aid to Gaza. "Direct delivery by sea is neither appropriate nor responsible, and certainly not effective, under the circumstances."
     The Lebanese and Iranian efforts come after a tragic incident aboard a Turkish aid ship, part of an 8 ship Turkish flotilla which was headed for Gaza on May 31. Israeli navy commandos, intent on preventing the ship from reaching Gaza's shore,  boarded the ship, and were met by a violent mob weilding sticks and knives. The clash that ensued resulted in the deaths of 9 Turkish activists.

[nChrist]

If they are determined to have WAR - that's what they'll get. It really is just this simple - without mentioning God's Possible Time for WAR. The difference is that nothing can stop GOD'S TIME.

[Soldier4Christ]

According to IsraelNationalNews.com Iran is currently surrounded by U.S. and Israeli Troops. The thought is that they are ready for anything that Iran does.

Iran is Surrounded by US Troops in 10 Countries

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138284

And it looks like Iran is starting to get a bit concerned about it.

Tehran declares State of Alert on its Western Border: Iran-US-Israel Drama goes into Act II : Truth

http://truthiscontagious.com/2010/06/25/tehran-declares-state-of-alert-on-its-western-border-iran-us-israel-drama-goes-into-act-ii

[nChrist]

I would love to see Iran humbled before we are Raptured Home to Glory.

[Barbara]

WOW Pastor Roger and nChrist!! Things are building up over there at a rapid pace!

Also got this article yesterday:

Third US carrier, 4,000 US Marines augment US armada opposite Iran
Debkafile
 
Debkafile's military sources report Washington has posted a third carrier opposite Iran's shores. It is supported by amphipibious assult ships and up to 4,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel, bringing the total the total US stregth in these waters to 3 carriers and 10,000 combat personnel.
    The USS Nassau (LHA-4) Amphibious Ready Group 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, tasked with supporting the Bahrain based 5th fleet area of operations, is cruising around the Bab al-Mandeb Straits where the Gulf of Aden flows into the Red Sea. It's presence there accounts for Tehran announcing Sunday, June 27 that it's 'aid ship' for Gaza had been called off, for fear an American military boarding party would intercept the vesel and search it. This would be permissable under the latest UN sanctions punishing the Islaamic Republic for it's nuclear program.
     The third US carrier to reach waters around Iran consists of three vessels:
1. The USS Nassau Amphibious Assault ship is not just an enormous landing craft for the 3,000 Marines aboard, it's decks carry 6 vertical take off AV-HB Harriers attack plans; four AH-1W Super Cobra, twelve CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters, as well as choppers convertible to fast V-ww osprey airplanes capable of landing in any conditions.
    The vast warship has 1400 cabinets for sleeping the entire Marine 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard.
           Cont'd...

[Barbara]

Cont'd...
 
2. The amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde which carries 800 Marines equipped for instantaneous landing.
3. The amphibous dock landing ship USS Ashland which carries 400 Marines and 102 commandos trained for special operations behind enemy lines.

     debkafile adds: The USS Ashland was the target of and al Qaeda Katyusha rocket attack in 2005 when it was docked in Jordans Aqaba port next to the Israeli port of Eliat. One of the rockets exploded in Eliat airport. The ship exited the harbor in time to escape  harm.

     These new arrivals are a massive injection of naval, air, and marine muscle to the strength Washington has deployed in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Indian Ocean arena in recent months. The USS Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group consisting of 12 warships is cruising in the Arabian Sea opposite Char Bahar, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards biggest naval base not far from the Iranian-Pakistani border. It is there that most of Iran's special commando units are housed. Also posted in the Arabian Sea, further to the West, is the USS Dwight D Eisenhower Strike Group.

[nChrist]

Hello Sister Barbara,

Thanks for another fascinating article. Things like this aren't being covered in the news for whatever reason. It would appear that the fuses to several more powder kegs have been lit, and the showdown in the Middle East is ready to start. As Christians, we know what's coming at God's Appointed time. It's obviously Supernatural that there's such a determination to fulfill Bible Prophecy.

Love In Christ,
Tom