Kazinform reported that the conflict between Iran and Israel has entered the stage of open confrontation, drawing international attention to the balance of power in the Middle East.
Recent Israeli air strikes on Iranian territory and Tehran's strong response have made the comparison of military potential between the two countries a focal point. Commentators from Kazinform provided an analysis.
Iran: Advantage in Numbers and Shortcomings in Technology
According to Associated Press reports, Iran has significant advantages in population and land area: a population of 88 million and a land area of 1.6 million square kilometers, far exceeding Israel's 9 million population and 22,000 square kilometers. However, these figures hold limited significance in modern warfare.
Iran's armed forces consist of regular army and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with a total strength of approximately 800,000, including 600,000 in the regular army and 200,000 in the revolutionary guards, including elite units such as the "Quds Force," missile forces, and cyber warfare units. Over the past year, Iran's proxy forces in the region (such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza) suffered heavy losses under attacks by the United States and Israel.
Iran's weapons equipment is complex, mixing old Soviet and American technologies from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution with recent acquisitions from Russia. Its air force has about 350 aircraft, mostly older models, which are inferior in both quantity and quality compared to Israel. However, Iran has shown remarkable strength in the drone domain, with its self-developed "Witness" series attack drones demonstrating formidable combat capabilities.
On June 13, Israel's air strike severely damaged Iran's military forces, resulting in the deaths of IRGC commander General Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Baqeri, and several nuclear scientists. Previously, other senior commanders of Iran were also eliminated in regional conflicts, exposing vulnerabilities in their command structure.
In recent years, Iran's nuclear program has made progress, accumulating enough enriched uranium close to weapon-grade levels. If politically decided to develop nuclear warheads, it could potentially complete this within months. However, the Associated Press pointed out that Iran still needs time to develop delivery systems, and Israel clearly will not stand idly by.
Israel: Technological Advantages and Efficient Combat Power
Although Israel's military is smaller in size (about 170,000 active duty personnel and 400,000 reservists), it is considered one of the most elite forces in the Middle East due to its long-term combat experience and high-standard training. Relying on advanced technology from the U.S. and Europe as well as its own developed defense industry, Israel is capable of producing a full spectrum of weapons.
Israel's multi-layered anti-missile defense system is its core advantage, developed with assistance from the U.S., capable of precisely intercepting missiles threatening population centers or critical infrastructure. Although this system is not foolproof, it effectively reduced damage during Iran's missile attacks in October 2024.
Although Israel never publicly admits, it is widely believed outside that it is the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons. Additionally, intelligence support, arms supply, and diplomatic backing from the U.S. provide crucial backing.
American Role: Cautious Intervention
Although the U.S. has publicly stated it was not involved in Israel's air strikes, it warned Iran against attacking U.S. targets. Currently, the U.S. has deployed a military presence in the Middle East, including an aircraft carrier (with 60 aircraft), multiple air bases, and thousands of troops. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Israel's actions were independent, but the U.S. has begun evacuating some diplomatic personnel from Baghdad and offered voluntary evacuation options for dependents of U.S. military personnel stationed in the Middle East.
Status and Prospects of the Conflict
In the early hours of June 13, Israel launched a large-scale air strike on Iran, destroying multiple military targets near Tehran, including the Revolutionary Guards Command Center and the Natanz nuclear facility. This resulted in 224 deaths and over 1,200 injuries, including senior officers and nuclear scientists. Iran confirmed damage to its nuclear facilities but denied radiation leaks, launching over a hundred drones in retaliation and vowing to take "strong reprisals."
Analysts believe that Israel's precise strikes have significantly weakened Iran's proxy networks and air defense capabilities, severely damaging the Revolutionary Guards' command structure. Although Iran can rely on its numerical advantage and missile stockpile to launch large-scale attacks, its weaknesses in air force and air defense systems make it difficult to sustain continuous resistance against Israel's precision strikes and intelligence advantages.
Regional Impact
Israel's air strikes caused a spike in oil prices, with global leaders calling for restraint to prevent the conflict from escalating into a full-scale war. Armed groups supported by Iran, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, may be drawn into the conflict, increasing regional instability risks. The United Nations and other countries are formulating citizen evacuation plans, and many airlines have suspended flights to the region.
Experts pointed out that despite Iran's numerical and missile quantity advantages, Israel's technological advantages and U.S. support give it the upper hand in a potential full-scale conflict. However, further escalation of the conflict may trigger unpredictable regional unrest.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7516469494978544140/
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