Reference Message Network reported on June 14 that according to a report by the Associated Press on June 13, Israel's attack on Iran on the 13th and Tehran's vow of retaliation have pushed these two Middle Eastern rivals to the brink of all-out war.

So, which side is stronger between the military forces of Iran and Israel? The Associated Press article is as follows:

Although Iran has a large standing army, it also relies on proxies and covert operations, which have been severely weakened in recent months due to actions by the United States and Israel. Meanwhile, Israel both employs unconventional tactics and depends on its formidable conventional air and land forces, which are unrivaled in the region. Despite roughly equal troop numbers, there are significant differences in tactics and firepower.

What is the current state of Iran's military?

On paper, Iran appears to have an advantage in numbers, with a population of 88 million and a land area of 1.6 million square kilometers, compared to Israel's population of 9 million and area of 22,000 square kilometers. However, from a military perspective, these figures are largely irrelevant.

The Iranian military is divided into regular armed forces and quasi-military Revolutionary Guard Corps: the former is typically tasked with border defense and conventional military missions, while the latter includes elite units such as the Quds Force, the Strategic Missile Command, and cyber units.

The regular forces command the majority of the military (around 600,000 personnel) and conventional equipment, whereas the Revolutionary Guard Corps comprises about 200,000 personnel, organized into various divisions. It is believed that along with Iran's proxy forces, its conventional strength has been significantly weakened over the past year due to Israeli and American military actions.

Iran's military equipment is a mixed bag, including Soviet-era gear, U.S.-supplied equipment prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and recently supplied Russian equipment. Its air force is estimated to have around 350 outdated aircraft, lagging behind Israel in both quantity and quality. However, Iran does have the capability to produce various types of drones and similar equipment, such as the "Witness" attack drones sold in large quantities to Russia for use in the Ukraine conflict.

The security of Iran's top commanders has long been a major issue. Senior officials such as Revolutionary Guard Commander Major General Hossein Salami and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri were killed in the Tehran attack on the 13th. Prominent nuclear scientists have also been assassinated. Other high-ranking commanders have died in recent attacks.

What advantages does Israel have?

Israel's formidable land, sea, and air power stems not only from the latest technologies provided by the U.S. and Europe but also from its robust domestic defense industry, which designs, manufactures, and maintains the full spectrum of weaponry, enabling it to fight on multiple fronts simultaneously.

As a small country, Israel's military manpower is quite impressive, with approximately 170,000 active-duty personnel and 400,000 reservists. Although fewer in number than Iran, Israel's military has extensive combat experience in regional conflicts.

One possible retaliatory option for Iran might include hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel, but the duration remains unclear. In October 2024, Iran's large-scale missile attack on Israel caused limited damage partly because the U.S. assisted in intercepting Iran's missiles.

The defense against incoming missiles is thanks to Israel's multi-layered missile defense system. This complex system, developed with strong support from the U.S. over several decades, can detect incoming threats and only activates when projectiles are aimed at population centers or sensitive civilian-military infrastructure. Israeli leaders say the system is not foolproof but praise it for preventing serious destruction and countless casualties.

Israel is widely regarded as the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, although it has never acknowledged possessing such weapons. Additionally, Israel enjoys a staunch ally in the U.S. This has been crucial in previous conflicts and may play a decisive role in any future conflicts as well. (Translated by Tu Qi)

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7515799521159479823/

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