Lebanon part 1: How did a fragile state become a battlefield for regional powers?

Iran, Israel and the U.S.: How the war changed West Asia

The Iran-Israel-U.S. war may have ended with a ceasefire, but many of the questions that drove the conflict remain unresolved. After months of direct confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States, the region is taking stock of a war that raised fears of a wider regional conflict, disrupted global energy markets and brought renewed attention to Iran's nuclear programme. What did the war actually achieve? Did military action weaken Iran's nuclear ambitions or make the issue more difficult to resolve? Why is the Trump administration pursuing diplomacy with Tehran after abandoning the 2015 nuclear deal? And how has the conflict reshaped the balance of power in West Asia? In this episode of Global Faultlines, we speak about the consequences of the Iran-Israel war, the future of the U.S.-Iran relations, the state of Iran's nuclear programme, and what the ceasefire means for the future of the region. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu  Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Camera: Shivaraj S Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Has Israel’s bid to reshape West Asia hit a road block?

The October 7 attacks triggered a wave of changes across West Asia, transforming conflicts, alliances, and the balance of power in the region. What began as a war in Gaza soon expanded into a wider regional crisis involving Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Yemen, and the Gulf. In this episode of Global Faultlines, we examine how West Asia has changed over the past two years, from Israel’s evolving military strategy and Iran’s regional position to Syria’s political transition, the Red Sea crisis, and shifting Gulf dynamics. As old red lines continue to collapse across the region, the episode asks whether West Asia is entering a completely new and more volatile era. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu  Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Camera: Shivaraj S Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Lebanon part 2: Why Lebanon remains in perpetual crisis

Lebanon’s civil war ended in 1990, but many of the country’s deeper fault lines remained unresolved. In the decades that followed, Lebanon rebuilt its cities and economy, yet sectarian politics, weak institutions, and competing centres of power continued to shape the state. In this second and final part of our Lebanon series on Global Faultlines, we examine the events that pushed the country into prolonged crisis. From the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and the withdrawal of Syrian troops, to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, the episode traces how regional conflicts continued to reshape Lebanon’s political landscape. We also look at the impact of the Syrian Civil War, the refugee crisis, the financial collapse of 2019, and the Beirut Port Explosion that exposed the depth of institutional failure in the country. As tensions rise once again between Israel and Hezbollah, the episode asks why Lebanon remains trapped in recurring cycles of instability, and whether the country can still find a path toward recovery. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Camera: Shivaraj S Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Lebanon part 1: How did a fragile state become a battlefield for regional powers?

Lebanon was once seen as a rare success story in West Asia, a country that appeared stable on the surface. However, beneath that image lay deep structural fault lines. In Part 1 of our Lebanon series at Global faultlines, we trace how a fragile post-independence system began to unravel. From the growing influence of Syria to the arrival of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Lebanon was steadily pulled into regional conflicts. We examine the impact of the Lebanese Civil War, Israel’s invasions in 1978 and 1982, and the rise of Hezbollah as a powerful force shaped by support from Iran. By the end of this episode, we ask: how did Lebanon become a frontline for regional power struggles—and what did that mean for its future? Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Camera: Shikha Kumari A, Karthik P Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Who won the U.S.-Israel war on Iran?

As tensions in West Asia spiral into one of the most dangerous confrontations in recent years, this episode of Global Faultlines breaks down the 2026 Iran–Israel–U.S. war, starting from the U.S.-led “Operation Epic Fury” and the killing of the former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Iran’s sweeping retaliation across the region. We trace the roots of the conflict back to the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, examine how a long-running shadow war escalated into direct military confrontation, and unpack the strategic, economic, and humanitarian consequences, particularly the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. With a fragile Pakistan-brokered ceasefire now under strain and high-stakes talks collapsing, we also take a closer look at why diplomacy has failed so far, what the key sticking points are, and whether the region is on the brink of another round of escalation. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu  Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Camera: Shivaraj S, Karthik P Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]