Kolkata: Israel, on June 13, launched strikes across Iran and said they targeted the latter’s nuclear programme and its heart. Iran has vowed to retaliate and the Israeli military is working to thwart the counter-attacks. The government has declared a state of emergency in Israel. The attack reportedly killed Hossein Salami, the chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards. Notably, the main nuclear enrichment facility in Iran was hit during the attack.
The strikes were named Operation Rising Lion and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they did that to reduce the “Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival” and the operation would go on for as many days they deem necessary. He said, “If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months, or less than a year. This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival.”
The attack has once again ignited the geopolitical tension between Israel and Iran, with experts opining the latest conflict could have severe repercussions. As the world waits with bated breath, let us examine the military strengths between the two countries, which could be a point of discussion in the coming days.
Iran vs Israel: A military comparison
At this point, Israel has reportedly 170,000 active personnel. The country’s military has 465,000 reserves and 35,000 paramilitary forces. On the other hand, Iran’s military is significantly larger, comprising 610,000 active personnel, 350,000 personnel in reserve, and 220,000 paramilitary forces.
Interestingly, Israel’s defence spending is much more than that of Iran. According to the Global Firepower Index, the defence budget of Israel is $24 billion, whereas the defence budget of Iran is $9.95 billion. However, Iran’s military gets funding not only from the state budget. The Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) states that Iran’s military controls one-fifth of the market value of companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange and owns thousands of other companies, and the armed forces get revenue from them. Also, the FDD states that the IRGC controls a significant portion of the country’s underground economy.
What are the air force capabilities of the two countries?
According to the Global Firepower Index, Israel has 612 operating aircraft which include 241 fighter jets and 146 helicopters. Out of them, 48 have been classified as attack helicopters. Iran, on the other hand, reportedly has 551 aircraft which include 186 fighter jets and 129 helicopters, with 13 of them being attack helicopters. Notably, the air power of Israel includes 23 special-mission aircraft. Israel also has a famous aerial defence system including the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, and The Patriot.
How many tanks and missiles do they have?
Israel has 1,370 tanks and 43,407 armoured vehicles, while Iran has 1,996 tanks and 65,765 armoured vehicles. Israel has 580 units of self-propelled artillery while Iran has 775 rocket artillery systems. However, Israel has more advanced tanks than Iran like the Merkava tanks, considered among the best-designed and heavily armoured in the world.
As per the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Iran has the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East, including thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles. But Israel has one of the most technologically advanced missile arsenals in the Middle East as per reports.
What about the nuclear weapons?
Now when it comes to nuclear weapons, Israel has a clear edge. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported that Israel has around 80 nuclear weapons. On the other hand, while Iran has been trying to get nuclear weapons for years, it is believed that currently it has no such weapons.
