Operation “Desert Shield†erupted into “Desert Stormâ€, as the first F-117 airplanes bombed Iraq. Just two days after this great uniting of prayer, war broke out in the Middle East. Those following Medjugorje could see the parallel of Our Lady’s request for prayers of peace and the deteriorating situation in Iraq. The threat to world peace was magnified with those who followed Medjugorje because of Our Lady’s prophetic warnings over the past several months, before anyone could see even the possibility of war on the horizon.