Iran was taken by surprise by a sudden Israeli attack that killed several high-ranking military officials of the nation led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Despite this blow, Iran’s military power remains intact and unshaken by Israel’s assault.

The attack, which began early Friday morning on June 13, resulted in the deaths of major military leaders, including Iran’s Chief of the Armed Forces Staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami.

Iran successfully launched a retaliatory strike that overwhelmed Israel. According to Trita Parsi, a foreign policy expert at the U.S.-based think tank Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Israel made a critical misjudgment by underestimating Iran’s military capabilities.

“They [Israel] underestimated Iran’s ability to regroup and rebuild its strength after several top military leaders were targeted and killed,” said Parsi, as quoted by CNN on Monday, June 16.

Israel’s Military Power
Israel is known for its formidable military force. Citing Globalfirepower, the country ranks 15th in global military strength. It possesses 611 fighter jets and 48 attack helicopters, supported by a military budget of around US$31 billion.

Israel heavily relies on strong, conventional ground and air forces, which are considered unrivaled in the Middle East. Nearly all its military hardware is supplied by the United States and European countries.

Israel’s army, navy, and air force are bolstered by the latest American and European technologies, combined with a robust domestic defense industry.
Despite its small size, Israel fields approximately 170,000 active-duty troops and another 400,000 in reserves. Though outnumbered by Iran, Israeli forces are highly experienced due to numerous regional conflicts.

Iran Should Not Be Underestimated
Iran, however, is not to be underestimated. According to AP News, Iran has demographic and geographic advantages with a population of 88 million and a land area of 1.6 million square kilometers, compared to Israel’s 9 million people and 22,000 square kilometers.
In global military rankings, Iran sits at number 16, just one rank below Israel.

Iran boasts a large and motivated fighting force. The regular military consists of around 600,000 personnel, equipped with standard gear, while the IRGC includes roughly 200,000 troops divided into several specialized divisions.

Iran's military arsenal is diverse, including weapons sourced from the former Soviet Union and the U.S. prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, as well as newer systems from Russia.

Moreover, Iran excels in UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) production, manufacturing various types of drones that can be remotely operated or programmed for autonomous missions.
One example is the Shahed combat drone, which Iran has sold in large quantities to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.

In addition, Iran has 188 fighter aircraft, 6 air tankers, 128 helicopters, and 13 attack helicopters. Its ground forces are equipped with 65,825 armored vehicles, 392 self-propelled artillery units, 2,070 towed artillery pieces, and 1,517 rocket launchers. In terms of naval power, Iran leads with 25 submarines, 7 frigates, 21 patrol boats, and 3 corvettes.

With such comparisons, any direct military clash between the two nations is unlikely to be resolved quickly. Though Iran’s defense budget is only half of Israel’s, the resilience of its military and the determination of its people remain formidable forces.