AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- Since the 2003 fall of Baghdad, ascendant Iran has been spreading its tentacles and flexing its muscles. Iran's Shi'ite dictators are moving to replace the Sunni Arab dictators as the leaders of the Muslim world and to replace the US as the dominating power in the Middle East. One key element in this strategy involves waging a genocidal war/jihad to eliminate Israel. Iranian influence and military power now extends in a crescent from Tehran through Iraq and Syria into Lebanon where Iran-sponsored Hezballah is re-arming, re-organising and rebuilding right on Israel's northern border. Meanwhile, Sunni but Iran-sponsored Hamas threatens Israel from Gaza in Israel's south. Whilst the eradication of Israel is the ultimate goal, the present flash-point is Lebanon, home to a vulnerable Christian minority of over one million.

Lebanon is split between two diametrically opposing forces: a ruling Sunni, Druse, Christian, pro-Western coalition (the March 14 Forces); and a pro-Syrian, Islamist, mostly Shi'ite, Hezballah-led opposition. The Lebanese Army is similarly divided. The Christians too have been split, with the pro-Syrian 'Free Patriotic Movement' of Christian leader Michael Aoun backing Hezballah. Hezballah's main allies however are the state's various Shi'ite and Palestinian militias, along with Syria and Iran. The main ally of the pro- Western government is the US. The government envisages Lebanon as a modern, secular, liberal, democratic sanctuary on the Mediterranean, while the opposition envisages Lebanon as an Islamic citadel in the front-line of the jihad against Israel. The government controls the north and west whilst Hezballah controls the east and south.

Hezballah does not want to take control of Lebanon as it does not want the burden of government. What Hezballah demands however is total freedom to re-organise, rebuild and re-arm for war without interference. On 6 May the government boldly banned Hezballah's Iran-built independent telecommunications network. It also fired Beirut airport's security chief, who is linked to Hezballah which is accused of compromising airport security. Hezballah's response was 'swift, furious, disproportionate and bloody' (Jonathon Spyer). While the Lebanese Army watched on, Hezballah blockaded all the roads to the airport and forced the pro-government media off the air. It burned the offices of the pro-government newspaper and seized control of western Beirut, laying siege to the homes of PM Foud Siniora and Sunni leader Saad al-Hariri. After demonstrating its strength, Hezballah handed its gains over to the Lebanese Army which is reportedly working to restore order.

So Lebanon teeters on the brink of a civil war: primarily a sectarian war of Sunnis v Shi'ites; a war between US-backed, pro-West, Sunni-dominated forces and Shi'ite Iran-backed barbaric forces intent on genocide. If Lebanon does descend into war then it will actually be a regional war (like Iraq) fought by proxies and exploited by terrorists. The future of the Middle East is increasingly precarious.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR --

• great spiritual wisdom, insight, faith and courage for all Lebanon's Christian religious and civic leaders, fathers and mothers; may the Holy Spirit empower them to be wise and comforting shepherds to his people through these difficult times.
  
  
• the Holy Spirit to keep God's people focused on him. May they fear no evil (Psalm 23:4) knowing that God is in the midst of those who hold him as holy. 'But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honour as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary ('miqdas': a place where God dwells) . . .' (Isaiah 8:13,14a ESV)
  
  
• the enemies of God to be defeated, so that the whole Middle East may become known not as a region of conflict, but as a region of peace where the God of the Bible is worshipped.

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
-----------------------------------------------------------
A MASSIVE CRISIS IN LEBANON

When Lebanon's US-backed government took bold steps against Iran-backed Hezballah on 6 May, Hezballah responded with lethal force. While the Lebanese Army watched on, Hezballah blockaded all the roads to the airport, shut down all pro-government media and seized control of western Beirut. Dozens have been killed in the fighting. The whole Middle East is now facing a massive crisis as Lebanon teeters on the brink of civil war. If that happens, it will really be a regional war waged by proxies and exploited by terrorists on Lebanese soil, and Lebanon's one million-strong Christian minority would be caught in the middle. The security of Israel is also at stake as Iran's goal is Israel's elimination -- a feat that would secure its position as the leader of the Muslim world. Please pray for Lebanon.

Elizabeth Kendal is the Principal Researcher and Writer for the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) http://www.worldevangelicals.org/. This article was initially written for the WEA RLP(Religious Liberty Prayer) mailing list.