Iran (MNN) — Israel and Iran square off as Western allies urge restraint.
Iran’s assault on Saturday was the first time the Islamic Republic directly attacked Israel since the regime’s formation in 1979. According to an Israeli military spokesman, nearly all of the missiles and drones were intercepted.
“Iran attacked Israel [with] full force, about 300 missiles, intending for a mass casualty. Fortunately, that did not happen, but this was the first time they fired from inside Iran,” Heart4Iran’s Nazanin Baghestani says.
“They were [previously] using the neighbors and using Hezbollah (to attack Israel), but for this one, they wanted to show that ‘We can do it.’”
Although Israel defended itself against Iran’s assault with help from Western and Arab allies, “on the local news inside the country, they were saying that the attack was very successful,” Baghestani says.
“[Officials said,] ‘We intended to harm Israel and America, and we have succeeded,’ so, all positive.”
The U.S. and other Western nations say they will not back Israel if it escalates the conflict by retaliation. According to Reuters, Israel’s war cabinet “favored retaliation but was divided over the timing and scale of any such response.”
(Photo courtesy of Denis Oliveira/Heart4Iran)
Meanwhile, Iran’s people are fighting a new battle against the regime. Knowing the people oppose their leadership, “the government kept people busy so they could do their attack” on Israel, Baghestani says.
“Morality police [were] arresting women that had bad (‘improper’) hijabs. They would take these ladies to unknown places. This happened on Friday, and on Saturday, [Iran launched] all the missile attacks.”
Heart4Iran offers the hope of Christ to anxious and fearful Iranians through a 24-7 call center and social media. More about that here.
“The spirit of fear is so bad, and it just doesn’t let them function inside the country. Once that is gone, they can breathe,” Baghestani says.
“It’s very important for us to continue with them, to disciple them, and make sure that they are strong enough to withstand all the storms they face inside the country.”
Help Heart4Iran keep this important work going. Pray the current tensions between Iran and Israel will not escalate into regional war.
Header image is a representative photo courtesy of Angelo Scarcella/Pixabay.
