June 30, 2025 • 10 mins
The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has transformed from covert operations to open warfare, leaving devastation in its wake. What started with targeted strikes has evolved into a regional crisis that threatens to engulf the Middle East in flames. With over 230 lives lost and countless more disrupted, the human toll continues to mount as missiles rain down on civilian areas in both nations.
As we unpack this complex situation, we examine how a series of provocations—from the April 2024 Damascus consulate strike to the surprise attacks of June 2025—created the perfect storm for what analysts now call the Falskir War. Hospitals overflow with the wounded while ordinary citizens huddle in bomb shelters, their daily lives shattered by air raid sirens and the constant threat of death from above.
Beyond the geopolitical analysis, this episode explores the spiritual dimension of conflict. Drawing from biblical wisdom, we navigate the tension between pursuing peace and standing against evil. Scripture offers a nuanced perspective that neither glorifies war nor demands passive acceptance of injustice. Instead, it challenges us to seek both peace and righteousness—to love our enemies while protecting the vulnerable.
For people of faith caught in this moral dilemma, the path forward requires wisdom and courage. We must pray for reconciliation while acknowledging that genuine peace cannot come through violence alone. It demands justice, repentance, and ultimately, trust in God's sovereignty even in our darkest hours. As missiles continue to fly and leaders double down on rhetoric, may we remember the words of Romans 12:21: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Follow the About it Podcast for more thoughtful discussions on today's most challenging issues. Share your perspectives on finding balance between strength and peace in a world that desperately needs both.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Conflict rapidly moved from the shadows into the
daylight, making it a crisis forlocal borders.
Us and European diplomats areurgently calling for
de-escalation, while the regionleaders of an all-size-justify
military action is necessary forself-defense.
Welcome to the show.
Talk about it or be about it.
It's the About it Podcast.
(00:20):
Here we go.
(00:44):
I'm your host, bradley Marlowe.
That's your C-Cell.
Hey, everyone.
(01:13):
So this episode is going to beabout strength and peace.
The situation in the Middle East, the conflict between Israel
and Iran, has surged into aregional war.
In April 2024, israeliairstrikes hit an Iranian
consulate in Damascus, killingseveral senior Iranian officials
.
Iran and its allies respondedby seizing an Israeli-linked
cargo ship and firing missilesinto Israel, to which Israel
(01:33):
launched retaliatory strikes.
In Iran and Syria Over thesummer, tit-for-tat violence
escalated.
On the 31st of July, a Hamasleader was killed in Tehran,
blamed on Israel.
Shortly after, israelassassinated a top Hezbollah
commander in Lebanon.
Then, on the 1st of October2024, iran launched missiles at
Israel.
Israel struck back on the 26thof October and in mid-June 2025,
(01:58):
the crisis exploded.
On the 13th of June 2025,israel carried out a surprise
attack on key Iranian militaryand nuclear sites and Iran
immediately retaliated withmissile barrages, of course,
against military and civiliantargets in Israel.
The US, which had helpedintercept Iranian missiles, then
(02:19):
struck Iranian nuclearfacilities.
On the 22nd of June, iran'sproxy forces, including the
Houthi militia in Yemen, firedrockets at Israel in response,
calling the US strikes adeclaration of war.
These exchanges have continuedday after day, with neither side
relenting and no ceasefire inplace.
According to emergencyofficials, by mid-June the toll
(02:40):
was already staggering More than230 people reported dead across
Israel and Iran since thefighting began.
Timeline of recent escalationIsrael-Iran hostilities flared
in April of 2024, attacks andcounterattacks.
They flared again after Hamasleaders' death in July, and yet
again in October.
The Falskir War broke out onthe 13th of June 2025, when
(03:04):
Israel struck Iran.
Each new round of strikesmissiles, drones, air attacks
have been met with a directresponse pulling in the US and
regional proxies.
There is a human toll in allthis.
Even in this fast-changing war,the cost is clear.
Iranian missiles hit centralIsrael and northern cities,
shattering windows and settingfires.
Israeli rescue teams recoveredbodies and treated dozens of
(03:27):
wounded after strikes on townsand high-rise apartments.
On one day alone, israelimedical services reported five
people killed and 92 wounded byIranian barrages.
Iran's health ministry likewisereported dozens killed and
hundreds wounded by Israeliraids.
In total, more than 230 peopleare reported dead across Israel
and Iran since the latestfighting began.
(03:47):
Hospitals in both countries areoverwhelmed, normal life has
been shattered.
Tel Aviv and Tehran residentsscrambled for cover under air
raid.
Sirens Schools closed andIsrael even in its main
international airport was shutdown after missile strikes.
The scale of destruction andsuffering underscores the
urgency for peace.
Yet at the same time, nationsand leaders on both sides are
(04:10):
speaking of strength and defense.
Israeli officials have vowed tostrike Iran's military
capability.
Iranian leaders have vowed toretaliate for every attack.
Conflict rapidly moved from theshadows into daylight, making
it a crisis far beyond localborders.
Us and European diplomats areurgently calling for
de-escalation, while the regionleaders on all sides justify
(04:32):
military action as necessary forself-defense.
Some voices and perspectives ininterviews, regional analysis
emphasize how quickly proxiesclashes can spiral into all-out
war.
A Middle East security experttold Reuters the situation, and
I quote a situation turned intoa full-blown confrontation in a
(04:53):
matter of weeks.
Both sides have removed theirumbrellas of all ambiguity.
Some observers note that publicopinion in Israel, still
reeling from a long war in Gaza,is hardening in favor of
deterrence.
People say they prefer strengthnow to waiting for a war
surprise later, one Israelicitizen commented on the local
news.
In Iran, state media andleaders frame the war as
(05:15):
defending Iran's security andhonoring allies.
Iranian officials blame Israelfor escalation, even as the US
admits its warplanes coveredIsraeli jets on the initial
strikes.
Conflicting narratives show howeach side views itself as
responding to aggression.
These conflicting narrativesshow how each side views itself
as responding to aggression.
Despite these tensions, manycivilians on both sides are
(05:37):
afraid and pray for peace.
A volunteer medic in northernIsrael said something like we
just wanted this to stop.
You grow up learning never toforget, but now we just hope to
survive the next hour.
A mother in Tehran toldreporters she grieves every
child's death.
These personal stories remindus that real people, families
and neighbors, are the onescaught between demands for
(05:58):
strength and desires for peace.
There is a biblical perspectiveon peace and justice.
As a person of faith reflectingon these events, I took to
scripture for guidance on thiswar and peace.
The Bible emphasizes peace asGod's ideal, but it also
acknowledges that violence mayoccur in a fallen world.
Many verses urge believers toactively seek peace and
righteousness.
For example, psalms 34 14 saysdepart from evil and do good,
(06:22):
seek peace and pursue it.
Prophet Isaiah envisions aworld where they shall beat
their swords into plowspheres.
Nations shall not lift up swordagainst nation.
In the New Testament, jesuscalls peacemakers blessed.
Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called children
of God.
Love your enemies and pray forthose who persecute you.
A radical prescription forpeace.
(06:43):
A radical prescription forpeace in the face of conflict.
At the same time, scripturecalls Christians to justice and
to care for the vulnerable.
Psalms urges us to defend theweak and the fatherless, uphold
the causes of the poor andoppressed.
It suggests that blind pacifismisn't always possible.
We may need the courage toprotect the innocent and stand
up against evil.
(07:03):
The Apostle Paul instructsbelievers if it is possible, so
as far as it depends on you,live peacefully with all and
overcome evil with good.
These verses imply our primarymission is peace.
They do not forbid taking uparms in legitimate defense or
enforcing justice.
In summary, the biblical viewis nuanced.
We should yearn and work forpeace, pray for love, even of
(07:25):
enemies, and trust in God'sultimate justice.
Yet we must also stand upagainst oppression.
The ideal is peace, but theBible recognizes that there may
be a time for war.
When innocent lives are atstake and evil is on the march,
there is a balance Strength andpeace.
For me personally, the tensionbetween strength and peace is
deeply real.
I value peace above all.
(07:46):
I want no part of morebloodshed.
I remember those words, makeevery effort to live in peace
with everyone, but I also knowthat sometimes peace has to be
defended.
The Bible's commands to helpthe oppressed and to redeem the
time give me conviction that wecannot be cowardly.
In practical terms, I believein pursuing two paths together.
We must pray and advocate forpeace.
Echoing Psalms 34, 14, I ask Godand fellow leaders to seek and
(08:10):
end the violence.
I urge fellow believers tocomfort the hurting and to
promote reconciliation.
Stay strong for righteousness,as Psalms 82, 3-4 encourage.
I must never ignore injustice.
That might mean supportinghumanitarian aid to victims on
both sides against extremistrhetoric.
If fighting continues, I hopeit will be restrained and
(08:31):
ethical, protecting civilianswhile targeting only military
threats.
I've also found encouragementin James 3.18, which says the
fruit of righteousness is sownin peace.
In my heart, I know that genuinepeace cannot come by violence
alone.
It requires justice, repentanceand trust in God's mercy.
In conclusion, offer a prayerfor peace and strength, lord God
(08:53):
, our refuge and our strength.
We look to you in times of warand conflict.
Help us to turn our swords intoplowshares and to live in unity
with one another, seekingjustice through our words and
actions.
I truly believe God can guideour hearts on both sides towards
peace.
We can hope and pray and, yes,even work for a moment, when
these sufferings cease andneighbors once again live
(09:14):
without fear.
In the meantime, we hold on tothe promise that God is the Lord
of peace, who can even usehardships to bring understanding
.
On this episode of About it,we've seen that valuing peace
does not mean ignoring evil orweakness.
Rather, it means loving ourenemy, caring for the innocent
and yet having the courage tostand firm.
May we all remember do notovercome by evil, but overcome
(09:36):
evil with good, and may that bethe way forward in these
troubled times.
Hey guys, I just wanted tothank you for joining me.
If you enjoyed this episode,gained something from it, I hope
it did add value to you.
Please follow me, pleasesubscribe, look me up on
Facebook and YouTube the Aboutit podcast and I look forward to
(09:59):
talking to you guys soon.
Conflict rapidly moved from the shadows into the
daylight, making it a crisis forlocal borders.
Us and European diplomats areurgently calling for
de-escalation, while the regionleaders of an all-size-justify
military action is necessary forself-defense.
Welcome to the show.
Talk about it or be about it.
It's the About it Podcast.
(00:20):
Here we go.
(00:44):
I'm your host, bradley Marlowe.
That's your C-Cell.
Hey, everyone.
(01:13):
So this episode is going to beabout strength and peace.
The situation in the Middle East, the conflict between Israel
and Iran, has surged into aregional war.
In April 2024, israeliairstrikes hit an Iranian
consulate in Damascus, killingseveral senior Iranian officials
.
Iran and its allies respondedby seizing an Israeli-linked
cargo ship and firing missilesinto Israel, to which Israel
(01:33):
launched retaliatory strikes.
In Iran and Syria Over thesummer, tit-for-tat violence
escalated.
On the 31st of July, a Hamasleader was killed in Tehran,
blamed on Israel.
Shortly after, israelassassinated a top Hezbollah
commander in Lebanon.
Then, on the 1st of October2024, iran launched missiles at
Israel.
Israel struck back on the 26thof October and in mid-June 2025,
(01:58):
the crisis exploded.
On the 13th of June 2025,israel carried out a surprise
attack on key Iranian militaryand nuclear sites and Iran
immediately retaliated withmissile barrages, of course,
against military and civiliantargets in Israel.
The US, which had helpedintercept Iranian missiles, then
(02:19):
struck Iranian nuclearfacilities.
On the 22nd of June, iran'sproxy forces, including the
Houthi militia in Yemen, firedrockets at Israel in response,
calling the US strikes adeclaration of war.
These exchanges have continuedday after day, with neither side
relenting and no ceasefire inplace.
According to emergencyofficials, by mid-June the toll
(02:40):
was already staggering More than230 people reported dead across
Israel and Iran since thefighting began.
Timeline of recent escalationIsrael-Iran hostilities flared
in April of 2024, attacks andcounterattacks.
They flared again after Hamasleaders' death in July, and yet
again in October.
The Falskir War broke out onthe 13th of June 2025, when
(03:04):
Israel struck Iran.
Each new round of strikesmissiles, drones, air attacks
have been met with a directresponse pulling in the US and
regional proxies.
There is a human toll in allthis.
Even in this fast-changing war,the cost is clear.
Iranian missiles hit centralIsrael and northern cities,
shattering windows and settingfires.
Israeli rescue teams recoveredbodies and treated dozens of
(03:27):
wounded after strikes on townsand high-rise apartments.
On one day alone, israelimedical services reported five
people killed and 92 wounded byIranian barrages.
Iran's health ministry likewisereported dozens killed and
hundreds wounded by Israeliraids.
In total, more than 230 peopleare reported dead across Israel
and Iran since the latestfighting began.
(03:47):
Hospitals in both countries areoverwhelmed, normal life has
been shattered.
Tel Aviv and Tehran residentsscrambled for cover under air
raid.
Sirens Schools closed andIsrael even in its main
international airport was shutdown after missile strikes.
The scale of destruction andsuffering underscores the
urgency for peace.
Yet at the same time, nationsand leaders on both sides are
(04:10):
speaking of strength and defense.
Israeli officials have vowed tostrike Iran's military
capability.
Iranian leaders have vowed toretaliate for every attack.
Conflict rapidly moved from theshadows into daylight, making
it a crisis far beyond localborders.
Us and European diplomats areurgently calling for
de-escalation, while the regionleaders on all sides justify
(04:32):
military action as necessary forself-defense.
Some voices and perspectives ininterviews, regional analysis
emphasize how quickly proxiesclashes can spiral into all-out
war.
A Middle East security experttold Reuters the situation, and
I quote a situation turned intoa full-blown confrontation in a
(04:53):
matter of weeks.
Both sides have removed theirumbrellas of all ambiguity.
Some observers note that publicopinion in Israel, still
reeling from a long war in Gaza,is hardening in favor of
deterrence.
People say they prefer strengthnow to waiting for a war
surprise later, one Israelicitizen commented on the local
news.
In Iran, state media andleaders frame the war as
(05:15):
defending Iran's security andhonoring allies.
Iranian officials blame Israelfor escalation, even as the US
admits its warplanes coveredIsraeli jets on the initial
strikes.
Conflicting narratives show howeach side views itself as
responding to aggression.
These conflicting narrativesshow how each side views itself
as responding to aggression.
Despite these tensions, manycivilians on both sides are
(05:37):
afraid and pray for peace.
A volunteer medic in northernIsrael said something like we
just wanted this to stop.
You grow up learning never toforget, but now we just hope to
survive the next hour.
A mother in Tehran toldreporters she grieves every
child's death.
These personal stories remindus that real people, families
and neighbors, are the onescaught between demands for
(05:58):
strength and desires for peace.
There is a biblical perspectiveon peace and justice.
As a person of faith reflectingon these events, I took to
scripture for guidance on thiswar and peace.
The Bible emphasizes peace asGod's ideal, but it also
acknowledges that violence mayoccur in a fallen world.
Many verses urge believers toactively seek peace and
righteousness.
For example, psalms 34 14 saysdepart from evil and do good,
(06:22):
seek peace and pursue it.
Prophet Isaiah envisions aworld where they shall beat
their swords into plowspheres.
Nations shall not lift up swordagainst nation.
In the New Testament, jesuscalls peacemakers blessed.
Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called children
of God.
Love your enemies and pray forthose who persecute you.
A radical prescription forpeace.
(06:43):
A radical prescription forpeace in the face of conflict.
At the same time, scripturecalls Christians to justice and
to care for the vulnerable.
Psalms urges us to defend theweak and the fatherless, uphold
the causes of the poor andoppressed.
It suggests that blind pacifismisn't always possible.
We may need the courage toprotect the innocent and stand
up against evil.
(07:03):
The Apostle Paul instructsbelievers if it is possible, so
as far as it depends on you,live peacefully with all and
overcome evil with good.
These verses imply our primarymission is peace.
They do not forbid taking uparms in legitimate defense or
enforcing justice.
In summary, the biblical viewis nuanced.
We should yearn and work forpeace, pray for love, even of
(07:25):
enemies, and trust in God'sultimate justice.
Yet we must also stand upagainst oppression.
The ideal is peace, but theBible recognizes that there may
be a time for war.
When innocent lives are atstake and evil is on the march,
there is a balance Strength andpeace.
For me personally, the tensionbetween strength and peace is
deeply real.
I value peace above all.
(07:46):
I want no part of morebloodshed.
I remember those words, makeevery effort to live in peace
with everyone, but I also knowthat sometimes peace has to be
defended.
The Bible's commands to helpthe oppressed and to redeem the
time give me conviction that wecannot be cowardly.
In practical terms, I believein pursuing two paths together.
We must pray and advocate forpeace.
Echoing Psalms 34, 14, I ask Godand fellow leaders to seek and
(08:10):
end the violence.
I urge fellow believers tocomfort the hurting and to
promote reconciliation.
Stay strong for righteousness,as Psalms 82, 3-4 encourage.
I must never ignore injustice.
That might mean supportinghumanitarian aid to victims on
both sides against extremistrhetoric.
If fighting continues, I hopeit will be restrained and
(08:31):
ethical, protecting civilianswhile targeting only military
threats.
I've also found encouragementin James 3.18, which says the
fruit of righteousness is sownin peace.
In my heart, I know that genuinepeace cannot come by violence
alone.
It requires justice, repentanceand trust in God's mercy.
In conclusion, offer a prayerfor peace and strength, lord God
(08:53):
, our refuge and our strength.
We look to you in times of warand conflict.
Help us to turn our swords intoplowshares and to live in unity
with one another, seekingjustice through our words and
actions.
I truly believe God can guideour hearts on both sides towards
peace.
We can hope and pray and, yes,even work for a moment, when
these sufferings cease andneighbors once again live
(09:14):
without fear.
In the meantime, we hold on tothe promise that God is the Lord
of peace, who can even usehardships to bring understanding
.
On this episode of About it,we've seen that valuing peace
does not mean ignoring evil orweakness.
Rather, it means loving ourenemy, caring for the innocent
and yet having the courage tostand firm.
May we all remember do notovercome by evil, but overcome
(09:36):
evil with good, and may that bethe way forward in these
troubled times.
Hey guys, I just wanted tothank you for joining me.
If you enjoyed this episode,gained something from it, I hope
it did add value to you.
Please follow me, pleasesubscribe, look me up on
Facebook and YouTube the Aboutit podcast and I look forward to
(09:59):
talking to you guys soon.
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