"The Future of Hezbollah" with Michael Rubin | MEF Podcast Ep. #364

For many years, the Lebanese Hezbollah organization was widely seen as the most powerful non-state military force in the world. Hezbollah’s ascent from a militia to a dominant political and military force in Lebanon captivated the world. But after entering the war with Israel on October 8, 2023, the organization suffered a series of devastating blows, leaving it severely diminished. The Middle East remains a crucible of global tensions, and Hezbollah’s trajectory—from Iranian-backed insurgency, to emergence as a regional power broker and now to decline and reduced status—offer critical lessons. How did Hezbollah’s alliances, ideology, and missteps shape its rise and fall? What does its collapse mean for Lebanon, Iran, and the broader geopolitical landscape?

Michael Rubin is director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he specializes in Middle Eastern countries, particularly Iran and Turkey. His career includes time as a Pentagon official, with field experiences in Iran, Yemen, and Iraq, as well as engagements with the Taliban prior to 9/11. Mr. Rubin has also contributed to military education, teaching U.S. Navy and Marine units about regional conflicts and terrorism. His scholarly work includes several key publications, such as "Dancing with the Devil" and "Eternal Iran." Rubin earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in history and a B.S. in biology from Yale University. You can follow Michael Rubin on X at @MRubin1971.