Monday night, Aug. 26, saw one Middle East country after another, including Israel, going on high military alert after they learned that US President Barack Obama had failed to come to an understanding with Tehran on Syria and so avert a US-led operation against Syria over its chemical attacks.
Obama had hoped this understanding would also pave the way to direct dialogue on the nuclear issue with the new Iranian president Hasan Rouhani.
Obama had hoped this understanding would also pave the way to direct dialogue on the nuclear issue with the new Iranian president Hasan Rouhani.
ebkafile's intelligence sources report that the US president delegated two emissaries for two separate tracks.
He found cause for optimism in Tehran's consent to receive Jeffrey Feltman, UN Deputy Secretary, Monday, Aug. 25, although in his former capacity as US Undersecretary of State and US ambassador to Damascus, Feltman was viewed as an adversary of Iran, Syria and Hizballah.
Feltman arrived suddenly in Tehran Monday and was received by Foreign Minister Javad Zarif without delay.
The other intermediary was Sultan Qaboos of Oman, who arrived in Tehran Monday for a visit with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He too made no headway in his attempt to persuade his host that the US was amenable to a last-minute understanding on Syria for holding back an attack.
Khamenei responded with a cold threat: If the Americans attack Syria, "the entire Middle East will suffer from burns," he said.
This response was the signal for orders to American military assets in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf to go on a state of high preparedness Monday night, debkafile's military sources report. Iran, Russia and Syria deployed their forces in readiness for a US-led attack on Syria. Syrian units were ordered to leave their bases and spread out across the country's broad open areas.
The ten military chiefs meeting in Amman focused on coordination of the joint operation against Syria which is expected to begin very shortly.
He found cause for optimism in Tehran's consent to receive Jeffrey Feltman, UN Deputy Secretary, Monday, Aug. 25, although in his former capacity as US Undersecretary of State and US ambassador to Damascus, Feltman was viewed as an adversary of Iran, Syria and Hizballah.
Feltman arrived suddenly in Tehran Monday and was received by Foreign Minister Javad Zarif without delay.
The other intermediary was Sultan Qaboos of Oman, who arrived in Tehran Monday for a visit with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He too made no headway in his attempt to persuade his host that the US was amenable to a last-minute understanding on Syria for holding back an attack.
Khamenei responded with a cold threat: If the Americans attack Syria, "the entire Middle East will suffer from burns," he said.
This response was the signal for orders to American military assets in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf to go on a state of high preparedness Monday night, debkafile's military sources report. Iran, Russia and Syria deployed their forces in readiness for a US-led attack on Syria. Syrian units were ordered to leave their bases and spread out across the country's broad open areas.
The ten military chiefs meeting in Amman focused on coordination of the joint operation against Syria which is expected to begin very shortly.
Participating in the meeting chaired by US chief of staff Gen. Martin Dempsey were the top commanders of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada.
The powerful message coming from US Secretary of State John Kerry and the White House spokesman Jay Carney Monday night indicated that the Obama administration was not about to back off its promise of consequences for those responsible for using chemical weapons against civilians and "shocking the world's conscience."
Both bluntly accused the Assad regime of the heinous crime of chemical warfare on civilians. "Our understanding is grounded in facts and common sense," Kerry said: This regime held custody of those weapon stockpiles, had the rockets to use them and was capable of doing so. "Basic humanity is offended by this crime and even more by the attempts to cover it up.
Kerry added: "We have additional information about these attacks. It is being reviewed with our partners and will be released in the coming days."
The powerful message coming from US Secretary of State John Kerry and the White House spokesman Jay Carney Monday night indicated that the Obama administration was not about to back off its promise of consequences for those responsible for using chemical weapons against civilians and "shocking the world's conscience."
Both bluntly accused the Assad regime of the heinous crime of chemical warfare on civilians. "Our understanding is grounded in facts and common sense," Kerry said: This regime held custody of those weapon stockpiles, had the rockets to use them and was capable of doing so. "Basic humanity is offended by this crime and even more by the attempts to cover it up.
Kerry added: "We have additional information about these attacks. It is being reviewed with our partners and will be released in the coming days."
PLEASE PRAY:
*That He who watches over Israel will be her protection from the gathering storm. Pray that He"who makes His messengers/angels winds, His servants a flame of fire" (Ps. 104:4) will guard the winds over Israel, and not allow them to sustain any substance which might be toxic to her people.
*For God's guidance sovereign guidance over the actions of western leaders-that no actions will be allowed to be taken outside of the determined purposes of the Lord.
*For the Prince of Peace to command Shalom! over the hearts and spirits of His people. He will keep them in perfect peace whose hearts are stayed on Him.
* Jeremiah 9:23-24 . "Thus says the LORD, 'Let not the wise boast in his wisdom, Let not the mighty boast in his might, nor let the rich boast in his riches; But let him who boasts boast in this, that he has insight and knows Me, Yehovah who does loving kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,' says Yehovah." Pray that the LORD will give to believers in positions of authority in the Middle East grace to not trust in their own wisdom, but to receive and be activated in His insight (ability to reason) and grounded in their knowledge of Him, Who delights in loving kindness, justice and righteousness in the earth.
*God's redemptive purposes over Egypt, Lebanon and Syria. Isaiah 19 gives incredible guidance for understanding and praying into what is currently going on in Egypt. Last week's Haftarah
spoke of a 'glory of Lebanon' which is destined to one day beautify the place of God's feet in Jerusalem (Isaiah 60:13). Isaiah 17:1 speaks of Damascus ceasing to be a city. We feel one should be cautious regarding modern-day interpretations of this prophecy attributing the destruction to a nuclear attack at the hands of Israel. Historically, it is almost certainly alluding to Damascus' destruction at the hands of Assyria in 732 B.C. For one thing, it is less than 40 miles from our border, and such an attack would likely have terrible consequences on Israel itself. What we find important to address in the passage is the close of verse 3, "And the remnant of Syria will be like the glory of the children of Israel," declares the LORD of Armies.Yes, pray against a lethal exchange between the two countries-but pray for the preservation and strengthening in the Spirit of God's remnant in Damascus and all of Syria.
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