Week of June 2, 2026
The Israel Defense Forces Move Past the Litani River to Stop Hezbollah
This past weekend, Hezbollah fired rockets and drones at Nahariya, Acre, Tel Dan, Beit Hillel, Kiryat Shmona, Safed, Ma’alot, and other areas in the Galilee. Thousands of people had to rush to protected spaces at the sound of the air raid sirens. When the ceasefire began on April 17, there was a week of quiet, but the hostilities have been slowly escalating. Hezbollah began to use new drone warfare called FPV (first-person view)—drones that use fiber optics to maneuver and have communications that are difficult to disable. These drones have killed an increasing number of soldiers since the ceasefire began.
As Hezbollah has seen the effect of their arsenal, they have carried out more strikes. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in response, launched more aggressive attacks against Hezbollah. Now, the IDF has made incursions into Lebanon beyond the Litani River to try to weed out Hezbollah infrastructure, weapons, and fighters. This is where the ceasefire currently stands, with Hezbollah sending rockets and mortars into Israel.
Recently, Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered deeper incursions into Lebanon; the IDF ground forces have advanced almost 13 miles, whereas at the time of the ceasefire, the IDF was only 6 miles from the border. As the ground forces were advancing, the Air Force, artillery, and tanks provided support strikes in order to reduce resistance.
Currently, the IDF has taken the strategic Beaufort Ridge, which is known for the Crusader Castle there built in 1139. It was a strategic IDF base during the First Lebanon War in 1982, when Golani Reconnaissance Unit captured the outpost used by terrorists to launch rockets into the Galilee. After Israel withdrew from it in the year 2000, it allowed Hezbollah to dig into the area and use it to once again launch rockets into Israel. The IDF will be removing that ability.
Please pray for the IDF’s safety and presence on this strategic ridge in Lebanon. Please pray the ground forces can uproot Hezbollah, their weapons, and their fighters.
Israel Receives a New Refueling and Transport Aircraft
The Israeli Air Force recently acquired from the US the first of six Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aircraft for refueling and transport. The giant plane, known as “Gideon” in Israel, landed at Nevatim Air Force base in southern Israel. The KC-46 tankers are expected to replace Israel’s aging fleet of Re’em refueling aircraft, though they can remain in operation until their replacements arrive over the next year. Even before the recent confrontations with Iran, Israel was planning to replace its refueling fleet, although now there is more urgency.
The tanker can carry around 90.7 tons of fuel (15 percent more than Israel’s current refueling fleet). As it is in operation, the plane itself uses less fuel, allowing it to travel longer and carry a larger load. It has medical evacuation capabilities and can carry 30 tons of cargo, while also transporting soldiers, equipment, and passengers. The KC-46 tanker will allow fighter jets to stay airborne over ranges of thousands of miles, refuel at a faster pace, and allow Israel to reach and defend over very long distances. An Israeli Air Force commander of the new refueling squadron recently said, “This aircraft can receive fuel in the air and can reach anywhere in the world. Even without receiving fuel, it can reach anywhere in the world. The world is small for this type of aircraft.”
Please pray for those who fly and maintain these aircrafts that are designed to help Israel protect and defend its residents.
Schools Canceled Along Northern Border
As a result of the increased rocket and drone attacks on civilian centers in northern Israel, schools have been closed. Students have already missed a lot of school as a result of the month-long conflict with Iran and Hezbollah in March. Educational activities are permitted in the central Galilee area where a shelter can be reached in the allocated time. Many classes are taking place inside the shelters. Workplaces can open as long as adequate shelter is available. Gatherings of people are restricted to 50 people outside and 200 people inside, while all the beaches are closed. Standard protocol is being initiated to bring the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya underground to serve patients in protected areas.
Please pray for students and that they would be able to keep some form of a routine. Please pray for the workforce to be able to work safely. Please pray for the hospitals and medical facilities to provide adequate care for the sick and injured.
Good BBQ and Great Conversations!
Recently, a team of young adults came to serve with us. They took time to see the country and places of the Scriptures. It was wonderful for them to see the Bible become three dimensional in front of their eyes. Their favorite part of the trip was preparing, cooking, and serving a barbeque at a base in central Israel. One of our staff workers has been in mandatory reserve duty, serving the nation as well as serving his brothers in uniform. Everyone on base knows he is a believer in Jesus, and he gets asked many questions about his faith and the scriptures. The team was able to encourage those at the base and share reasons why they came to Israel and that they love Jesus, the Messiah of Israel. It was a relaxed and friendly time with conversations extending late into the evening. Once the group left, our staff worker was given the opportunity to have many more conversations about his faith, the team’s faith, and the hope (shalom) they have in Jesus. Food, good conversation, curiosity, and trust are wonderful bridges to gospel conversations!
Please pray that these soldiers and our staff worker would continue the dialogue.
