On the first anniversary of anti-government uprisings in Syria (March 15th) forty tons of Iranian aid supplies arrived in Damascus. The shipment is the first of four planeloads that Iran plans to send to its most important regional ally. Iran’s ambassador to Syria, Raouf Sheibani said the supplies included medicine, medical equipment, tents, blankets, food and ambulances. He said the aid shows Iran’s support for Syria’s current government. ‘Iran is standing fully behind the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad as it battles armed rebel groups it describes as terrorists,’ Sheibani said. Iran maintains last Thursday’s aid package was free of any weaponry. However, the Washington Post quoted an unnamed U.S. intelligence authority saying the aid from Iran is ‘increasingly focused on lethal assistance.’ The last thing Iran wants is to see a regime change in one of its staunchest regional allies.

Pray: God’s hand to direct the course of the conflicting camps emerging in the Middle East, and for His purposes to be quickly realized. (Is.25:3)

More: http://www.thetrumpet.com/9218.8059.0.0/middle-east/iran-pumping-aid-into-syria

On Tuesday explosions rocked the centre of Damascus and a car bomb went off in the Shi'ite quarter of Beirut. – see item 4 above. These events served as a reminder that Syria continues to bleed and the repercussions of the horrendous civil war are still being felt by neighbours. In the south of the Golan Heights near where Israel, Jordan and Syria meet, sits a UN outpost deserted by international observers months ago when the fighting between the Syrian army and extremist Sunni rebels escalated. The observers fled and the outpost is now held by a small group of armed Sunni extremists. From the Israeli side of the border you can easily spot them. When they're not fighting Assad's forces they spend their time in the small swimming pool abandoned by the UN soldiers. Some Israelis fear that sooner or later they might seek some other pastime on the western side of the fence and Syria’s internal violence will be reflected in tensions with Israel as Syria’s war overspills onto neighbouring borders.

Pray: that in the midst of turmoil and change - God’s purposes will be achieved in the Middle East. (Mat.16:18) Pray that Believers will know the reality of His peace. (Ps.29)

More: http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/tensions-in-syria-and-egypt-are-flaring-but-israel-s-responses-are-limited.premium-1.534876

With the bloodshed mounting in Aleppo the Arab League chief accused Assad's government of atrocities. A report on the Aleppo carnage Amnesty International said, ‘Scores of demonstrators and bystanders, most of them young men and boys but including several children and older men, have been shot dead and hundreds injured in the city by security forces and the notorious Shabiha, the armed militias working alongside government forces. Some of the victims were bystanders who were not taking part in the demonstrations. Families of demonstrators and bystanders shot dead by security forces have been pressured to sign statements saying that their loved ones were killed by 'armed terrorist gangs'. Life for Aleppo's three million residents is becoming unbearable under military siege. An activist told the Associated Press by Skype. ‘There is not enough food and people are trying to leave. We really need support from the outside. There is random shelling against civilians.’

Pray: for international protection for those who are trapped in the city and the 200,000 who have managed to escape.

More: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/08/20128125840642184.html

A Syrian envoy arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for crisis talks with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, days after the Turkish leader described the Syrian government's repression of protests as ‘savagery.’ The once-close relationship between the neighbours appears close to breaking point as thousands of Syrians have fled to Turkey to escape a fierce crackdown by President Bashar Assad's security forces.

Pray: for Jesus Christ to be in the midst of these talks and for every strategy to be inspired by God's wisdom. (Ps.17:13)

More: http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=225080

Army defectors attacked and destroyed parts of the Air Force Intelligence building in Harsata, (a major military base near Damascus). It is the Free Syrian Army's most high-profile attack since anti-government protests began. The rebel army was formed by military defectors opposed to Mr Assad and affirmed 15,000 members by mid-October, saying more soldiers and officers are defecting every day. They work alongside the Syrian people to topple the government and ‘stand up to the irresponsible military machine which is protecting the regime’. The government has severely restricted access for foreign journalists, and reports of violence are extremely difficult to verify. The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Rabat for the Arab League meeting, says reports of the attack show how the situation in Syria is becoming more serious by the hour. It is also a graphic illustration of how the conflict is moving close to being a civil war which might affect the whole region; rather than a fight between unarmed protesters and the government.

Pray: and call to God, for all those in distress, and may Jesus Christ reveal his truth and wisdom and change the hearts of those in authority. (Ps.55:18 & 139:20-21)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15752058

A suicide bomber struck the National Security building in Damascus during a meeting of cabinet ministers, killing the Defence Minister and wounding other senior officials.Defence Minister Dawoud Rajha, 65, a former army general, was the most senior Christian government official in Syria. President Bashir al-Assad appointed him to the post last year. By Wednesday the capital had seen four straight days of clashes between government troops and rebels trying to bring down the regime. The fighting is an unprecedented challenge to government rule in the tightly controlled capital. Minister Dawoud’s death will resonate with Syria's minority Christian population (about 10%) The Christians have generally stood by
the regime, and say they are particularly vulnerable to the violence sweeping the country. They are fearful that Syria will become another Iraq, with Christians caught in the crossfire between rival Muslim groups. Republican Guard troops surrounded the al-Shami Hospital where some officials were taken for treatment.

Pray:for God’s continued protection of the innocent Syrian population and for Russia, US  andEurope to help the country out of this hostile situation. (Ps.9:3,4)

More:http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/07/18/syria-bombing-defence-minister.html

Ravina Shamdasani spokeswoman for U.N. Human Rights Office said ‘The brutal crackdown on dissent in Syria has claimed the lives of over 3,500 Syrians. Since Syria signed the League of Arab States peace plan last week 60+ people are reported killed by military and security forces, including at least 19 on the Sunday marking Eid al-Adha. Bab Amro neighbourhood has been bolstered by a steadily growing number of army defectors. Canadian news ‘Globe and Mail’ reported Syria planting landmines along the border with Lebanon as refugees flee the crackdown on protestors. Syria is a regional nexus, bordering five countries with which it shares religious and ethnic minorities and in Israel's case a fragile truce. Its alliances extend to Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iran's Shiite theocracy. Turkey has opened its borders to anti-Assad activists and breakaway military rebels.

Pray: for Christians throughout the region to be protected, and for changes that initiate positive results. (Pr.14:11)

More: http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=244806&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%

Syrian state media reported ‘violence accounts were exaggerated propaganda’; however two government members resigned in protest to violent crackdowns. The Bishop of the Syriac Orthodox church, Philoxenos Mattias, said, ‘We are with the government and against movements opposing it, in Syria we don’t have problems like Christians in other countries. We have no problem with the president.’ See Meanwhile two Syrian bloggers recorded opposing views:- ‘The media is mistaken. I am Christian and Syrian and know that Syrian Christians are for the government. Sunni Muslims are trying to bring it down’ a different Syrian blogger wrote, ‘Christians are afraid they will lose the Allawites protection; the Allawites of losing their privileged position; the Asaads and Baath party of losing the millions of dollars from abusing their position and the Sunnis are sick of being second class citizens in a country where they are the majority.’ See

Pray: the Lord will accomplish His plans and purposes, bringing a smooth transition of power to leaders under His authority. (Jude1:25)

More: http://win1040.com/post.php?id=1199

Last Friday marked the start of Easter for Christians across the Middle East; tens of thousands of Christians have fled Homs to Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. ‘We are following events in Syria very, very closely. We have personnel in Syria and we continue to pray for them’ said Arab World Ministries’ Christine McLaren. ‘Christians are suffering more than many in Syria because they felt a degree of sympathy with the al-Assad regime. The relative freedom to gather and worship that they enjoyed under al-Assad leaves them with mixed feelings about any change of leader.’ She added, ‘ People are afraid because Christians have felt a measure of protection greater than other Christians in the Middle East, but being aligned with the regime has now made them vulnerable to attack and identified them as enemies of the people.' Across the Middle East, Christians have been targeted throughout their ‘Holy Days’ seasons.

Pray: for the Christian workers resourcing and equipping the church, and may God do miraculous feats amongst this generation - pray for the extension of God’s kingdom throughout the Middle East. (Mt.16:18)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.training.continues.in.syria.despite.turmoil/29670.htm