KKN Gurugram Desk | Tensions between two of the most militarily powerful nations in the Middle East, Israel and Iran, have escalated once again, with airstrikes, drone retaliation, and casualties among top Iranian scientists being reported. The latest wave of hostilities reflects a broader and more complex regional struggle, raising concerns about stability in the region and the potential for open war.

While Israel conducted targeted airstrikes on multiple Iranian military and research sites, Iran has responded with drone attacks, signaling a tit-for-tat dynamic that continues to grow in intensity. However, despite numerous aggressive exchanges over the years, both countries stop short of full-scale war. Why?

Military Might: Iran’s Numerical Advantage vs. Israel’s Technological Edge

On paper, Iran has a significantly larger military force compared to Israel. Tehran commands:

• 610,000 active military personnel

• 350,000 reserve troops

• 220,000 paramilitary Basij fighters

This brings Iran’s total estimated military strength to 1.18 million — nearly double that of Israel.

In contrast, Israel maintains:

• 169,500 active troops

• 465,000 reserve personnel

Despite its smaller size (634,500 personnel in total), Israel’s military stands out for its elite training, compulsory service system, and advanced operational capabilities. Israeli citizens are subject to mandatory military service (32 months for men, 24 months for women), ensuring a broad pool of trained reserves ready to be mobilized swiftly.

Defense Budgets: Israel Outspends Iran by a Wide Margin

Another area where Israel clearly outpaces Iran is defense spending:

• Israel’s annual defense budget: $24.4 to $30.5 billion

• Iran’s annual defense budget: $6.85 to $10 billion

Additionally, Israel receives $3.8 billion annually in military aid from the United States, granting it access to cutting-edge technology, precision-guided weapons, and advanced air defense systems. Meanwhile, Iran’s military development is hampered by international sanctions and restricted access to global arms markets.

Air Superiority and Defense Systems: Israel Holds the Skies

Israel’s air power and missile defense infrastructure give it a decisive upper hand:

• Over 340 advanced fighter aircraft, including F-16s and F-35 stealth jets

• Multi-layered defense systems like:

  • Iron Dome (for short-range threats)

  • David’s Sling (medium-range)

  • Arrow-3 (long-range ballistic threats)

By contrast, Iran’s air fleet comprises around 551 aircraft, but many of them are aging Soviet or Chinese-era designs, less capable than their Israeli counterparts. Iran’s air defense system — such as the Khordad 15, capable of intercepting targets at 120 km — offers regional deterrence but does not match Israel’s layered, integrated air defense.

Israel’s dominance in cyberwarfare is also well-established. Its military intelligence units, particularly Mossad and Unit 8200, have previously carried out cyberattacks on Iranian nuclear infrastructure — including the notorious Stuxnet virus — significantly delaying Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran’s Strength: Ballistic Missiles and Drone Warfare

Where Iran closes the gap is in its ballistic missile and drone capabilities:

• Sejjil Missiles (range: 2,000 km)

• Fateh Hypersonic Missiles

• A vast arsenal of kamikaze and surveillance drones

These systems enable Iran to target Israeli cities and infrastructure as well as U.S. military bases and Gulf allies. Tehran has heavily invested in drone warfare, a key tactic in asymmetric warfare that has yielded results on multiple fronts — from Iraq to Yemen and Syria.

Iran also maintains 1,996 tanks and a growing drone force. However, its reliance on older military hardware affects performance in direct confrontations.

Naval Capabilities: Israel Leads Despite Iran’s Coastal Strategy

Iran’s navy is largely focused on coastal defense, utilizing small submarines and missile boats suited to the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf operations. In contrast, Israel boasts a modern naval force with 19,500 personnel, capable of offshore missions, submarine operations, and ballistic missile defense at sea.

Proxy Warfare: Iran’s Asymmetric Strategy

Rather than engaging Israel directly, Iran uses regional proxy groups to wage war in the shadows:

• Hezbollah in Lebanon

• Hamas in Gaza

• Houthi rebels in Yemen

These proxies carry out rocket attacks, suicide bombings, and guerrilla warfare on Israel’s borders. While this limits Iran’s exposure to direct retaliation, Israel has responded aggressively with airstrikes across Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza, targeting Iranian military advisors and proxy infrastructure.

Global Alliances and Diplomatic Support

Israel:

• Strong backing from the United States, European Union, and Arab states (notably UAE and Saudi Arabia) through the Abraham Accords

• Benefits from intelligence sharing, military cooperation, and advanced defense technology

Iran:

• Limited support from Russia, China, and Syria

• Suffers from global sanctions, economic isolation, and reduced access to international markets

The Nuclear Question: Israel’s Stockpile vs. Iran’s Ambitions

Israel is widely believed to possess 80–90 nuclear warheads, although it maintains a policy of ambiguity.

Iran, on the other hand, is still developing its nuclear program, which has faced repeated setbacks due to:

• Cyberattacks

• Targeted assassinations of nuclear scientists

• Sabotage of nuclear facilities

While Iran claims to have gathered intelligence on Israeli nuclear sites, analysts remain skeptical about the credibility and implications of such claims.

Why Iran Is Hard to Dismantle Despite Israel’s Superiority

Several factors explain why Iran continues to pose a persistent threat:

1. Geographical Advantage – Iran’s vast and mountainous terrain provides natural defense.

2. Proxy Network – Iran avoids direct conflict, using non-state actors to stretch Israeli defense resources.

3. Missile Reach – Long-range and hypersonic missiles allow Iran to retaliate deep within Israeli territory.

4. Self-Reliance – Under sanctions, Iran has developed domestic weapons programs, making it less vulnerable to foreign restrictions.

5. Strategic Restraint – Both nations avoid full-scale war due to the risk of regional destabilization and global intervention.

Despite continued escalations, a direct and sustained war between Israel and Iran remains unlikely — primarily due to the catastrophic consequences such a conflict would bring, not just for both nations but for the entire Middle East.

Instead, both sides continue to engage in a hybrid war — involving drones, cyberattacks, proxy groups, and intelligence operations — creating a perpetual state of strategic tension that defines the Israel-Iran relationship today.