The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are considered powerful due to a combination of advanced military technology, extensive combat experience, a unique personnel system driven by mandatory military service and a large reserve force, and strong strategic alliances, particularly with the United States.
Israel's quality higher education and the establishment of a highly motivated and educated populace is largely responsible for ushering in the country's high technology boom and rapid economic development by regional standards.
Israel's military strength is the result of deliberate, long-term investments across strategy, organization, technology, society, and geopolitics. The following factors combine to produce a highly capable, adaptive, and resilient armed force.
Iran and Israel both have formidable military might. Iran has a general advantage in numbers, with some 600,000 active personnel (and 350,000 reservists) compared to Israel's 170,000 (and 450,000 reservists).
As of 2024, the number of combat aircraft in the Israeli Air Force (IAF) amounted to 278. Around 174 fighter aircraft were F-16 jets, which are designed by the American Lockheed Martin company, and locally known as the Barak 1. In addition, Israeli forces included 66 F-15 fighter aircraft, and 38 F-35 aircraft.
As depicted in the book, the Palestinians get no benefit from the Arab victory and are not granted a state of their own, with Israel being partitioned between Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Also, the Palestinian refugees are not allowed to return to their pre-1948 homes despite them now being under Arab rule.
Going into the conflict, Israel had overwhelming qualitative superiority over Iran. The IAF is one of the world's most capable air forces. The F-35 is one of the world's most advanced warplanes, with remarkable stealth and computing power that enables more effective use of Israel's less-advanced aircraft.
Russia has the most confirmed nuclear weapons, with over 5,500 nuclear warheads.
Russia has a large number of aircraft, including advanced fighter jets and bombers. However, Israel's air force is incredibly sophisticated, equipped with state-of-the-art American-made aircraft and advanced missile defense systems like the Iron Dome.
In turn, Israel provides a strategic American foothold in the region as well as intelligence and advanced technological partnerships. Relations with Israel are an important factor in the U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with cut diamonds, high-technology equipment and pharmaceuticals among its major exports. The country is very highly developed in terms of life expectancy, education, per capita income and other human development index indicators.
The land now known as Israel was ruled by numerous empires and peoples for millennia before its establishment in 1948, most recently the Ottoman Empire for 400 years (until WWI) and then the British Empire under a League of Nations Mandate (1920s-1948). Prior to the Ottomans, it was controlled by Mamluks, Crusaders, various Islamic caliphates (Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid), the Byzantine Empire, Romans, and earlier civilizations like the Canaanites and Egyptians, with periods of Jewish sovereignty (Kingdom of Israel/Judah) long before.
Israel today sits astride the Middle East because of the air power of the Israel Air Force. Israel's air defense systems are almost among the most integrated and capable in the world. In terms of ground forces, Israel may not appear to be as large as the Egyptian army on paper.
The VKS has failed to gain air superiority against a numerically inferior opponent, has insufficient intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, lacks adequate numbers of precision-guided weapons and has suffered meaningful losses of aircraft and attack helicopters.
United States - The Global Air Power Leader
The United States continues to make significant investments in its aerial capabilities, which solidifies its position as the leading military aviation power and accounts for around 40% of worldwide defense spending.
Zechariah 12 says that by the arrival of our Messiah, all nations will gather for war against Jerusalem and God's people. It may have been difficult to fathom before, but today we see that the world may be heading in that direction.
According to a 2019–2020 survey, 13% of Egyptians support diplomatic recognition of Israel while 85% oppose. The Arab-Israeli conflict kept relations cool and anti-Israeli incitement is prevalent in the Egyptian media.
By the numbers
That compares to Iran's 600,000 personnel, 350,000 reservists and 220,000 paramilitary forces. And with a population of nearly 90 million, compared to Israel's 10 million, Iran has a significant advantage.
The US has long dominated military aviation with two cutting-edge fighter jets. > F-22 Raptor – Designed for air superiority, the F-22 offers unmatched stealth and agility.
(IMI), also referred to as Taas (Hebrew: תעש, התעשייה הצבאית), is an Israeli weapons manufacturer. It manufactures firearms, ammunition and military technology mainly for Israeli security forces (especially Israel's army, the Israel Defense Forces or IDF), although its small arms are very popular throughout the world.