Lebanon (MNN) — It’s clear how the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has failed. Although Hezbollah is weakened, it has not been disarmed. Although the war is over, Israel continues to conduct steady airstrikes on Lebanese territory.
The violations have been acknowledged but not resolved. Yet that may be changing.
Last week, the still-armed Hezbollah urged Lebanon’s government not to negotiate further with Israel. Israel responded by ramping up strikes in southern Lebanon against what it says were Hezbollah targets.
Hezbollah fighters train in southern Lebanon, May 2023. (Photo courtesy of Tasnim News Agency/Wikimedia Commons)
Nuna* with Triumphant Mercy Lebanon explains the escalation is something to take seriously.
“It means that if Hezbollah doesn’t give up the weapons, we’re going to have another war,” Nuna says.
“If Hezbollah keeps the weapons, Israel has said it very bluntly that ‘We will not allow it.’ They will have a war again until they completely destroy Hezbollah.”
Lebanon’s government pledged this summer to implement a disarmament plan against Hezbollah, with the goal of completion by the end of the year. It has already taken steps toward this goal, but Hezbollah says it will not disarm.
“The government says something, Hezbollah says something else, and nobody says anything about it. Nobody is keeping Hezbollah responsible [for] their acts,” says Nuna.
That shows a fear of Hezbollah’s weapons, which Nuna says is understandable. A civil war is no solution to the conflict.
“But at the same time, this solution must be found, because we cannot keep Lebanon hostage [to] the will of one small party [Hezbollah] in Lebanon,” says Nuna.
Hope for restoration
With Hezbollah and Israel on opposite sides and the clock for 2025 ticking, the conflict is coming to a head.
“We cannot do anything about it, except pray and ask that the Lord will have mercy on Lebanon and find a solution,” Nuna says.
Beirut House of Prayer gathering October 9-11, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Triumphant Mercy Lebanon)
During a 50-hour prayer gathering in Beirut last month, believers prayed for Lebanon’s restoration.
“I think we felt the Lord was saying, ‘I’m sending my arrows, and when the arrows hit the ground, it will shake the nation,’” Nuna shares. “We are seeing a shaking now. Is it easy to be in the shaking? No, but we don’t want to stay in the status quo in any way.”
Pray for God to reshape Lebanon for His good purposes during this tense time of upheaval. Pray that for the entire Middle East as well.
“Look at the new era for Syria now, with the presidency in the US, with France, with the accords that are starting to shape with Israel — the Abrahamic Accords. All these things. Something is changing in the whole region,” says Nuna. “So let’s pray that the Lord who is in the business of changing the Middle East will do it according to His plans, and He will not allow any of man’s plan to succeed.”
*Pseudonym
Header photo: Beirut, Lebanon (Stock photo courtesy of Muhammed Beyrouti via Unsplash)
