The 12 Days of War That Didn’t Ignite the Middle East or the World

A hypothetical 12-Day War between Israel, the US, and Iran failed to produce the long-predicted catastrophic outcomes. The conflict remained contained as Iran's 'Axis of Resistance,' including Hezbollah, did not fully engage, and the global economy was not severely impacted. The war exposed the fragility of the Iranian regime, revealing deep fissures among the elite and a lack of popular support, rather than a rally-'round-the-flag effect. While this confrontation was limited, future escalations will depend on Iran's ability to rebuild its military capacity and its risk tolerance. The analysis suggests that long-held assumptions about a war with Iran were misguided, highlighting the regime's internal weaknesses and the diminished power of its regional proxies.