2nd March 2026

Israeli forces launched strikes on Lebanon including the capital Beirut this morning, after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli strikes across the country, including in Beirut’s southern suburbs where Hezbollah have a strong presence. Over 30 people have been killed and a further 150 injured. Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, called today’s rocket fire “irresponsible”. Such action he said, “endangers Lebanon’s security and safety, and gives Israel pretexts to continue its attacks on it”. Since the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, Lebanese authorities have repeatedly said they do not wish to involve their country in the outbreak of conflict across the region.

God, hear our prayers for peace in the Middle East. May all people in the region be protected, safe from harm. We pray that this crisis will end now, with no further loss of life. God, may the injured and distressed know your healing presence. May the powerful and the decision-makers follow the paths of justice, mercy and peace. We pray for recognition of the dignity and value of every life. May the clamour of violence cease, Replaced by the beating of swords into ploughshares. God, in your name, Amen.

Prayer from Christian Aid, published in August 2025.

Emma Dilley was driving her car  in Highland Park, Texas, when she noticed a man lying in the middle of a crossroads with a couple of people standing around him. Emma is a a pre-med freshman at Dallas Baptist University.  Emma got out of the car to see what was happening, and realised she needed to perform CPR to sav the man's life.  Later, a bystander told her he was flagged down by the man, who said he was having an asthma attack before he collapsed.  Emma said, that she was able to revive the man after administering two rounds of chest compressions for around four minutes. "I just kept doing CPR until the EMTs arrived.

In Halesowen, UK, another Emma, Emma Small, was recently at home with her partner Clark, who has Type-2 Diabetes, when he began to feel unwell. While Emma was on the phone to the emergency services, Clark stopped breathing. "In that moment, fear took over — but I knew I had to act fast, Emma said. "I began CPR straight away and continued until the ambulance arrived. Those minutes felt like a lifetime, but they saved his life." Emma added: "Now, I want to turn this frightening experience into something positive. With the support of West Midlands Ambulance Service, I am hoping to organise a community CPR awareness and training session so more people can learn how to respond in an emergency. 

Prayer based on Philippians 2:6-11 (NLT)

One eternal God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

we thank you for Jesus coming into the world

to be our Saviour.

We thank you that although he is one person of the

Trinity he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

We give you praise for when he appeared in human form,

Jesus humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 

We thank you that you raised him

to the place of highest honour

and gave him the name above all other names,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue declare

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.  Amen.