As tensions increase in the Middle East, Israel maintains clashes with different groups of the so-called Axis of Resistance.
From October 7, 2023, tensions in Middle East have only increased and threatened the possibility of a larger-scale war in the region. .
On this date, the militant group Hamas led a direct offensive against Israel which left around 1,200 dead and 250 hostages who were kidnapped.
Since then, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded with ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip, which already total more than 41,000 victims according to information from local authorities.
The war in the Middle East was marked by cross-attacks, attacks and threats of reprisals while the possibility of reaching a ceasefire seems distant for the moment.
At present, Israel clashes with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Iran and Shiite militias from Syria and Iraq .
Such pieces are members of what is called Axis of resistance an alliance fueled by Iranian forces which seeks to counter the influence of Israel and the United States in the region.
They accuse of having supported with arm military training and financial support to the militia network.
Last October 1, Iran launched around 180 missiles against Israel in retaliation for his recent operations.
We must not forget that Israeli troops They launched ground raids in Lebanon and, in late September, assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. through bombings on positions in Beirut.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a post on X (former Twitter) after the attack: “Our action has concluded, unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further reprisals “.
“In this scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful “, underlined the Iranian authority.
Late the same day, according to a statement, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that “Iran made a serious mistake tonight and it will pay the price” .
With these words, he clearly expressed the intentions of a counterattack .
As the war continues and fears about the possibility of further escalation in the region become even more smoldering, Questions have been raised about whether Israel’s military capabilities will allow it to maintain so many war fronts simultaneously. in a context where so far no sign of decline has been observed.
How big is Israel’s military force?
In conversation with the BBC anti-missile defense specialist and member of the think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Shaan Shaikh, stated that “The latest attacks have shown that Israeli intelligence and military forces are capable” .
However, he assured that “There are limits and the more open fronts you have, the more difficult each operation will be” .
World Bank data based on reports from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) details that, Since 2019, Israel has invested more than $20 billion per year in military spending .
The latest report on Iran corresponds to 2022 and specifies that it has allocated almost 7 billion dollars to this area.
Likewise, it is reported that Israel invests 4.5% of its GDP in defense and Iran 2.6% .
For his part, Syria allocates 4.1% and Lebanon 3.4% .
Concerning its air power, Israel has around 340 military aircraft which include models such as the F-15 and F-35.
Instead, Iran has around 320 including F-4, F-5 and F-14.
But It is unclear exactly how many of these planes can operate because many are several decades old and could face technical problems or a lack of spare parts, said the lead researcher of the Oslo Peace Research Institute (PRIO), Nicolas Marsh.
The director of Begin-Sadat for strategic studies (BESA) attached to the Israel Bar University, Eitan Shamir, told the BBC that “Israel can bomb almost any point in the Middle East with its Air Force” .
At the same time, he declared that his troops They have different types of armored vehicles, tanks, ships and drones, among other equipment. armament .
Shamir suggests that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “are one of the most modern and well-equipped military forces in existence and they have extensive combat experience, especially after their fight against Hamas in Gaza.
To this is added that They have intelligence services like Mossad .
This organization is to whom was awarded the explosion of thousands of beeps used by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon in mid-September.
After the detonations, the group accused Israel of being “fully responsible for this criminal aggression which also targeted civilians” .
To defend against enemy projectile attacks, Israel has systems like Iron Dome he Arrow and David’s Honda .
Generally speaking, these mechanisms have in common that enable the identification and interception of missiles when approaching areas of the territory
Under the gaze of the CSIS specialist, Israel has military capabilities superior to those of Hamas, Hezbollah or the Houthis. .
However, he emphasized that The scenario is different if they confront Iran while confronting “their other enemies in the region.” .
What difficulties does Israel face when maintaining so many war fronts simultaneously?
Sheikh stressed that Maintaining different war fronts simultaneously is very complex .
“One of the things that may be lacking is precisely their famous Iron Dome, since It will be impossible for them to defend themselves against several missiles launched simultaneously. “.
The CSIS expert explained that “this is because some sensors can only look in certain directions “.
“SO, If you have a sensor facing north toward Lebanon, it may not be able to be used to look east toward Iran or south toward Yemen. Sheikh added.
Likewise, according to Shamir, the situation in Israel It could also become complicated in terms of manpower and combat on land. .
Data from the ISS indicates that They have approximately 178,000 active troops among their ranks.
Instead, Iran has more than 600,000 in service .
Estimates indicate that Hezbollah has between 50,000 and 100,000, while Hamas has between 20,000 and 30,000. .
To what extent is Israel dependent on support from other countries?
For the Israeli forces too Support from the United States, the power from which 69% of its arms imports come, is essential according to data reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The State Department of the said country specifies that, Before the war, it spent $3.3 billion a year on military resources and $500 million on missile defense. .
In addition, in 2022 it delivered an additional $1 billion intended for Iron Dome interceptor projectiles.
End of 2023, After the outbreak of war, the United States supplied Israel with thousands of bombs. according to SIPRI.
On this point, Shamir emphasized the BBC that “They depend greatly” on their support, since things like “planes, munitions and different technological components come from there.” .
In this sense, he said that “There is also the diplomatic umbrella” .
“Without the US veto, a problematic scenario could arise in which the United Nations Security Council declared that Israel must cease its offensive and, if not, impose international sanctions,” the BESA director added to the aforementioned media outlet.
But the North American country is not the only one on which Israel depends heavily .
The other two countries sending more weapons to Israel These are Germany, with 30%, and Italy, with 0.9%. according to SIPRI data.
Source: Latercera
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
