Publications

Given the time that has elapsed since the ceasefire ended the Second Lebanon War, a full examination of the war’s effects on both sides and on the entire region remains a challenge. However, it is clear that the processes that led to the war, the way the war was conducted, and the war’s results will have a lasting impact on the region and beyond. While it is questionable if there is a “new Middle East,” it is possible that we are witnessing significant changes such that the current Middle East is different in many ways from the one we knew before. Iran already looks like a regional power and its leadership position has strengthened since the wars in the Persian Gulf and the Fertile Crescent. For their part, the heads of the Islamic regime in Tehran are talking as if Iran is already a global power rather than a growing regional force. This essay will examine the way the Second Lebanon War has apparently contributed to Iran’s standing and policies as can be seen in the period following the war.