Iran and Israel: What are their attack and defence capabilities?

Israel launched a wave of strikes against Iranian military and nuclear sites early on Friday morning, marking the latest chapter in an escalatory spiral between the Middle Eastern rivals.

The Israeli army said more than 200 Israeli air force jets attacked some 100 targets across Iran in its surprise overnight attacks. It also claimed to have killed Iran’s “three most senior military commanders”.

In a post on X, the Israeli military named the targets of its assassinations as Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the armed forces; Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); and Major-General Gholam Ali Rashid, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

Israel and Iran had exchanged missile strikes in 2024. On October 2, Iran attacked Israel’s major cities with at least 180 ballistic missiles on October 2. The IRGC said those missiles were fired as Tehran’s response to the killings of civilians in Gaza and Lebanon, in Israeli attacks, as well as the assassinations of leaders of the IRGC, Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel had retaliated by carrying out strikes on about 20 military targets in Iran on October 25 in response to what it said were months of attacks by “Iran and its proxies” in the region.

But the Friday, June 13, attacks by Israel mark a dramatic escalation, and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has threatened “severe punishment” for Israel in response.

As Israel and Iran – longtime foes who, for decades, have engaged in proxy battles – increasingly head towards a direct confrontation, we take a look at their respective military capabilities, their abilities to attack each other, and how they might defend their territories.

Number of soldiers

According to The Military Balance 2023, published by the United Kingdom-based think tank the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS):

Iran has 610,000 active personnel, including 350,000 in the army, 190,000 in the IRGC, 18,000 in the navy, 37,000 in the air force and 15,000 in air defence. Additionally, it has a reserve army of 350,000. Conscription is mandatory for Iranian men aged 18 and above, with a few exemptions.

Israel has 169,500 active personnel, including 126,000 in the army, 9,500 in the navy and 34,000 in the air force. Israel has a reserve army of 465,000. Israel mandates conscription of most young men and women above 18 years of age, with certain exemptions.

Military spending

According to a fact sheet published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in April 2024:

Iran spent $10.3bn in 2023, a 0.6 percent increase from 2022.

Israel spent $27.5bn in 2023, a 24 percent increase from 2022 – a surge in part fuelled by the war on Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attacks of 2023.

Ground forces

According to The Military Balance 2023:

Iran has at least 10,513 battle tanks, 6,798 artillery guns and more than 640 armoured personnel carriers. The army also has 50 helicopters, while the IRGC has five helicopters.

Israel has about 400 battle tanks, 530 artillery guns and more than 1,190 personnel carriers.

Air force

According to The Military Balance 2023:

Iran: The air force has 312 combat-capable aircraft, and the IRGC has another 23. The air force has two attack helicopters, the army has 50, and the IRGC has five.

Israel has 345 combat-capable aircraft and 43 attack helicopters.

Navy

According to The Military Balance 2023:

Iran has 17 tactical submarines, 68 patrol and coastal combatants, seven corvettes, 12 landing ships, 11 landing craft, and 18 logistics and support vehicles.

Israel has five submarines and 49 patrol and coastal combatants.

 

Air defence systems

According to The Military Balance 2023:

Israel’s air defence relies on what is known as the Iron Dome system, which is believed to have intercepted most of Iran’s missiles on Tuesday night. The system is equipped with a radar that detects an incoming projectile, as well as its speed and direction. The control centre then calculates whether the projectile poses a threat to Israeli towns. The projectiles that do not pose a threat are allowed to land in empty fields. If they pose a threat, the missile-firing unit launches missiles to shoot them down. The launcher contains 20 interceptor missiles.

There are 10 Iron Dome batteries scattered around Israel. Other systems intercept medium and long-range missiles. The David’s Sling intercepts missiles ranging between 40km (25 miles) and 300km (186 miles). The Arrow System intercepts missiles with a range of up to 2,400km (1,491 miles).

Iran: In February, Iran deployed the short-range, low-altitude Azarakhsh, which means “thunderbolt” in Persian. It is an infrared detection system, equipped with radar and electro-optic systems to detect and intercept targets. It can be mounted on vehicles.

Iran has a range of different surface-to-air missile defence systems. These include the over 42 long-range Russian-manufactured S-200s, S-300s and local Bavar-373; the over 59 medium-range US MIM-23 Hawk, HQ-2J and Khordad-15; and the 279 short-range Chinese-manufactured CH-SA-4 and 9K331 Tor-M1.

Ballistic missiles

According to the Missile Defense Project of the US-based think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS):

Iran has at least 12 different types of medium- and short-range ballistic missiles in its arsenal. These range from the Tondar 69, which has a range of 150km (93 miles), to the Khorramshahr and Sejjil, which range up to 2,000km (1,243 miles).

Israel has at least four different types of small, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, ranging from the LORA with a range of 280km (174 miles) to the Jericho-3 with a range between 4,800km (2,983 miles) and 6,500km (4,039 miles).

Nuclear capabilities

Israel is estimated to have 90 nuclear warheads in its stockpile, according to the US-based Arms Control Association.

Iran is unlikely to have nuclear weapons, but it has an advanced nuclear programme and operates several nuclear facilities and research centres. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei banned the production of weapons in a religious edict or fatwa in the early 2000s, saying it is forbidden in Islam. However, in May, Iran did threaten to change its nuclear doctrine “should Iran’s existence be threatened”.