During the twelve-day war with Iran in June, a new alert system sent warnings to Israelis’ phones of an impending aerial attack. The messages bypassed regular cellular use and do not depend on internet connection. This ensures the alert system works when the cellular network is overloaded or someone is deep within a fortified structure, like a bomb shelter. People do not register for these alerts; they come through automatically, even if the phone is set to “do not disturb.”
The tone is incredibly disturbing and piercing. It causes the phone to vibrate and flash. On Saturday morning, every phone in Israel, including the ones that were turned off for the Sabbath, loudly informed Israelis that Operation Roaring Lion had started. Though there were no incoming missile threats, Homefront Command wanted the country to know that the pre-emptive strike had started and to be ready for the enemy to retaliate with ballistic missiles.
The phones warn civilians multiple times every day that “alerts are expected in the coming minutes.” These notifications usually allow a lead time of ten minutes to prepare oneself, the family, and the home. Sometimes, however, there is only the standard time of a minute and a half for the center of the country if the missiles were not detected fast enough. During this time, one must safely and quickly enter a bomb shelter.
The technology is based on Cell Broadcast, which allows systems to send alerts simultaneously to large numbers of people within a certain geographic area without cellular or internet coverage. This system is meant to work during terrorist attacks, earthquakes, fires, etc. The United States uses the same technology to alert residents of tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, and escaped prisoners.
Cell Broadcast technology is considered highly secure. In order to hack into the system to send a message, the hacker would need to get into Israel’s Homefront Command core system, which is highly isolated and protected.
Praise God for this unique technology that can alert the entire nation of Israel of incoming ballistic missiles so they can take shelter quickly.
Within 24 hours after the pre-emptive strike against Iran, the shared aerial forces of the Israel Defense Forces and the United States dropped over 1,200 bombs on strategic targets throughout Iran. On Saturday, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted its largest aerial battle in its history with 200 aircraft, striking over 500 Iranian targets. Within a day of launching the operation, Israel and the United States neared air supremacy. In comparison, during the twelve-day war in June, it took several days for the IAF to gain air supremacy. The relative speed suggests that Iran was not fully able to fix or replenish their anti-aircraft defenses after Israel’s strikes in June. Israeli and American aircraft can fly for extended time over Iran with minimal risk of being struck by Iran’s air defenses.
The initial targets were key Iranian leaders and ministers who were meeting in their central Tehran compound, as well as dozens of radars and anti-aircraft defenses. This initial attack was a tremendous success. Now the US and Israeli Air Forces are targeting wider areas of Iran and missile launchers that can fire ballistic missiles at Israel and other countries in the Middle East. One of the missile launch sites contained hundreds of pounds of explosives prepared to launch to neighboring countries.
All these immense goals are also intended to help anti-regime protesters. Specific regime forces and locations have become targets. One such location, the Tharallah headquarters, was used to oppress and murder protesters.
Please pray for continued strategic success of the Israeli and US Air Forces.
Hezbollah, in southern Lebanon, has had a ceasefire with Israel since the fall of 2024. Now, however, Hezbollah has declared “revenge for the blood of the Supreme Leader of the Muslims, Ali Khamenei.” The Lebanese government had requested Hezbollah to stay on the sidelines following Israel’s strikes on Iran and not drag its country into war. Nevertheless, Naim Qassem, the leader of Hezbollah, vowed the group would strike against Israel and the United States in retaliation. In response, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir declared: “We have begun an offensive campaign against Hezbollah. We are not just on the defense, now we go on the offense. We need to prepare for several days of fighting, many. We need strong defensive readiness and continuous offensive preparedness, in waves.”
Hezbollah sent rockets and drones from Lebanon in the early hours of Monday that activated sirens across all of northern Israel. One rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome, while a few rockets fell in open spaces. There were no reports of injuries or damage. Israel responded immediately with waves of airstrikes across southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah strongholds.
Please pray for the safety of civilians along Israel’s northern border.
The Lord is working in the middle of war, even four floors underground.
Recently, a missile hit very close to the apartment of one of our staff in Tel Aviv. The building shook hard, and broken glass was scattered all around the area. Her safe room is not underground, so she decided to sleep in a public underground shelter.
There she met a family who was sleeping nearby. They have been traveling for the past year and stayed at a host home in Asia. Our staff quickly realized they had stayed with people who are friends of hers! They were surprised about the close connection, and they proceeded to talk about memories, food, and funny cultural differences.
The father shared that while in the host home, he learned for the first time that there are “Jewish people who believe in Jesus.” He said his hosts’ explanation made a lot of sense to him, and he continued to talk in a way that shows his openness to discuss the gospel. Our staff “looks forward” to sleeping in the bomb shelter so she can continue these amazing conversations with these new friends and make new ones. There is a lot of camaraderie and appreciation for each other while enduring the hardships war, including sleeping in a bomb shelter!
Please pray for this special family who heard the gospel while traveling and staying in a host home. Pray for further, deep conversations with them and others as our staff shelter from ballistic missiles with neighbors and friends during war.
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