Following the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, the relationship between Iran and Israel has reached a critical juncture. Tehran has issued threats against Israel in response to the killing of a top Iranian leader in the attack. Consequently, Israel has intensified its security measures.
This escalation has raised concerns about the possibility of conflict between Iran and Israel, alongside the ongoing tensions in Gaza. However, assessing which country holds the military edge is a matter of debate.
According to data from the Global Firepower website, Iran holds a somewhat advantageous position compared to Israel in certain aspects, while Israel surpasses Iran in others. In terms of military power, Israel is considered one of the most formidable nations globally. In recent years, Iran has made significant strides in military technology, but Israel still maintains superiority in several key areas.
Iran ranks 14th among 145 countries in the Global Firepower Index, while Israel ranks 17th. Iran’s regular military personnel number around 610,000, whereas Israel has approximately 170,000 military personnel. Furthermore, Iran possesses reserve forces totaling 350,000, while Israel’s reserve force comprises 403,000 personnel. Iran’s paramilitary force stands at 220,000, compared to Israel’s 35,000.
In terms of total aircraft strength, Iran operates 1,116 aircraft, whereas Israel has 612 aircraft. Iran also maintains a larger fleet of submarines, with 19 compared to Israel’s five. Additionally, both countries possess robust missile defense systems, with Israel’s Iron Dome being particularly renowned for its effectiveness in intercepting rockets, including those from Lebanese Hezbollah and Gaza’s Hamas.
Both Iran and Israel possess various types of drones for surveillance and offensive purposes. Moreover, experts claim that Iran has developed nuclear weapons, although the country has not publicly acknowledged this. Conversely, Israel’s nuclear capabilities are widely speculated but not officially confirmed, and these details are not disclosed on the Global Firepower website.
Despite these military capabilities, tensions between Iran and Israel have heightened, leading to concerns about the possibility of a broader conflict in the region.