Israel’s and Iran’s military power: soldiers, ballistic missiles, nuclear power...

In the early hours of Friday, June 13, Israel launched attacks on targets related to Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the operation will continue “for as many days as necessary to eliminate this threat.”

In the Global Firepower Index, Iran ranks 16th while Israel holds the 15th position. This index evaluates 60 factors, ranging from government spending to weapons technology, logistical capabilities, and manpower.

Tehran boasts a large ground force. Currently, Iran has 610,000 active soldiers, 350,000 reservists, and 220,000 paramilitary personnel. Its arsenal includes nearly 70,000 military vehicles, such as tanks, self-propelled artillery, towed artillery, and rocket projectors, along with 551 aircraft and 101 naval vessels.

In contrast, Israel fields a ground force of 170,000 active soldiers and 465,000 reservists, with 43,407 combat vehicles of similar types, 612 aircraft, and 67 naval vessels. However, as tensions grow between Israel and Iran, the former’s capabilities, particularly in terms of manpower, are limited by the war in Gaza.

What are the nuclear capabilities of Iran and Israel?

Iran is a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), committing not to manufacture, develop, or acquire nuclear weapons. However, the Iranian regime does maintain several nuclear technology programs, and Western nations suspect Tehran may possess nuclear weapons.

Israel, on the other hand, is believed to possess around 90 nuclear warheads, according to a 2021 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The report based its estimate on calculations of Israel’s weapons-grade plutonium stockpile and the number of operational nuclear-capable systems.

How much does each country spend on its military?

Governments around the world allocate significant portions of their GDP to strengthen their armed forces, and Iran and Israel are no exception. Iran’s defense budget is nearly $10 billion, with a focus on a strategy of deep defense, strong missile capabilities, and regional influence through allied groups. Israel, however, has a much larger defense budget—more than double that of Iran. The Israeli government allocates over $24 billion to modernize its military with emerging technologies.

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