(Day 845) Swords of Iron – “Showdown Weekend”

Is this the calm before the storm—the quiet before war? Will the US and Israel strike Iran, possibly with a preemptive move to neutralize its capabilities before they can be used?

The United States is clearly positioning itself strategically. Four KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tankers have departed the Air National Guard base in New Hampshire and are preparing to cross the Atlantic to join a growing armada. EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft have also left a base in Spain, likely heading toward the Middle East. In addition, the USS Delbert Black, a Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyer, has entered the eastern Mediterranean, joining the USS Roosevelt strike group. This buildup is real, serious, and unlike anything we’ve seen in a long time.

While President Trump and other regional leaders have called on Iran to come to the table and abandon its nuclear and apocalyptic ambitions, Iran continues to double down. Tehran has announced live-fire military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, through which roughly 20% of global oil traffic passes. History reminds us that closing this strait has already triggered conflict before.

Iran is also taking defensive measures. Underground parking structures are being converted into shelters, and senior IRGC leadership is relocating to underground bunkers. At the same time, Iran is deploying thousands of new drones intended for intelligence gathering and attack missions targeting American presence in the region.

Israel, meanwhile, is preparing on every front. The Iron Fist defense system is now active, capable of intercepting and destroying kamikaze drones, anti-tank rockets, guided missiles, and armor-piercing threats. The region is bracing for what feels like a pivotal moment.

At the same time, violent attacks continue to emerge—vehicle rammings and assaults targeting civilians and Jewish institutions in Israel and abroad. These are not accidents of tools or vehicles; they are acts carried out by bad people driven by violent intent. The threat is real, and it is global.

Even in Iraq, instability is growing, with ISIS-like conditions resurfacing. This is not a moment for complacency. Security comes through strength, vigilance, and unity.

Now more than ever, this is a time to watch, to pray, and to stand on the right side of history.

As Isaiah 62:6 reminds us: “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day nor night.” Will you watch and pray for Israel together with us now?