Iran has said that the halt in fighting is a victory for Hezbollah. But behind the scenes, officials worked quietly for a cease-fire to stem the group’s losses.

The ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is good news not just because it promises to bring the terrible bloodshed of the past few months to an end. It also represents a major setback for Iran,

The decapitation of Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful ally in the region, now stands as proof of concept that massive force, unbridled by law or much concern over long-term or unintended consequences, works in substantially reshaping the balance of power.