Israeli soldiers drive a tank inside a village in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, Tuesday, May 5. (AP Photo) 4 min read May 6, 2026 04:52 PM IST First published on: May 6, 2026 at 04:52 PM IST As the war in the Gulf enters its third month, the daily bombardment is on pause, though the ceasefire looks fragile. Iran seems to be holding its ground; its talks with the US sputter amid President Donald Trump’s threats and reports of a rift within the Tehran regime. Yet to blame the caprices of a single individual for a global catastrophe is to trivialise the deeper, structural forces that underpin it. Our first thought must go to the suffering of ordinary people across all conflict zones: Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, the Gulf, Russia, and Ukraine. Beyond that, one must ask: What lessons does this moment hold for the citizens and states of the Global South? Foremost is the structural crisis convulsing the West.…