Iran Vs Israel: Why Israel Dominates Despite Iran’s Bigger Military and Population?

Iran Vs Israel: Tensions in the Middle East have once again reached a boiling point. The ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel is now teetering on the edge of full-scale war. While Israel has launched airstrikes on Iran’s capital Tehran, Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Both nations now stand openly against each other, and global strategic analysts are closely watching the developments. The biggest question on everyone’s mind: Why is Iran — significantly larger in territory, population, and military numbers — still struggling in the war, while Israel seems to hold the upper hand?

In this article, we will analyse this question in depth based on data, technology, strategy, and geopolitical positioning.

Iran vs Israel: A Comparative Analysis

The roots of Iran-Israel hostility run deep, going back decades. From the Islamic Revolution in 1979 to Israel’s alleged nuclear weapons programme, animosity between the two countries has been steadily intensifying. In 2025, this hostility escalated dramatically when Israel launched massive attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites and military bases. In retaliation, Iran responded with drones and ballistic missiles. But why does Israel maintain dominance on the battlefield? Let’s compare their strengths and weaknesses.

1. Territory and Population: Iran’s Sheer Size

Iran is 74 times larger than Israel in area and nearly 10 times larger in population. This gives Iran access to a vast pool of manpower for military recruitment — nearly 50 million of its population is of eligible age. On the other hand, despite its smaller population, Israel maintains a highly trained and disciplined force due to compulsory military service and rigorous training systems.

2. Military Power: Iran Has the Numbers, Israel Has the Edge

Iran: Iran’s military strength exceeds 1.2 million personnel, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) playing a pivotal role. The IRGC operates under the direct command of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and has its own naval, air, and missile divisions. While Iran possesses more tanks and armoured vehicles, many are outdated and based on pre-1979 U.S. and Soviet technology.

Israel: Israel’s active force is smaller, but it boasts a larger reserve force (465,000). Mandatory service at 18 ensures that most citizens are combat-ready. Its air force is considered the most advanced in the region, featuring U.S.-made F-35 stealth fighter jets.

3. Economic Strength

Israel’s economy is larger and more tech-driven than Iran’s. Its defence budget is nearly 2.5 times bigger. Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system alone costs more than Iran’s entire annual defence spending. International sanctions have weakened Iran’s economy, directly impacting its ability to modernise its military.

Why Is Israel Leading in the War?

Israel’s upper hand in the conflict stems from several key factors. Though Iran holds a numerical and geographical advantage, Israel’s strategy, advanced technology, and global alliances give it a significant edge. Here’s how:

1. Cutting-Edge Technology and Weaponry

Israel’s military is considered the most advanced in the Middle East. It is equipped with next-gen weapons, drones, missile defence systems, and cyberwarfare capabilities. Key strengths include:

• Iron Dome: This system intercepts and destroys incoming missiles mid-air. It has shown over 90% effectiveness against missile attacks from Iran and its proxies.
• David’s Sling & Arrow-3: Designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.
• F-35 Stealth Fighters: Acquired from the U.S., these aircraft use advanced radar and stealth technology, capable of penetrating Iran’s defences.
• Cyberwarfare: Mossad and Israel’s cyber units have targeted Iran’s nuclear programme through cyber-attacks like the Stuxnet virus, which caused significant disruption.

In contrast, Iran’s arsenal includes locally-made Shahed drones and Russian S-300 systems — which are no match for Israel’s high-end systems.

2. Strong U.S. Support

Israel receives unwavering support from the United States in the form of military aid, technology, and intelligence. The U.S. has deployed 60 fighter jets and thousands of troops in the Arabian Sea. Key aspects of U.S.-Israel cooperation include:

• Military Aid: $3.8 billion annually from the U.S. to Israel.
• Intelligence Sharing: Satellite and surveillance data from the U.S. is shared with Israel.
• Joint Exercises: Frequent joint military drills keep Israeli forces combat-ready.

Iran, on the other hand, has limited support from Russia and China — mostly restricted to arms sales. Geopolitical constraints limit the extent of support they can provide.

3. Nuclear Superiority

Israel is widely believed to possess 80–90 nuclear weapons, although it has never officially confirmed this. These weapons give Israel a significant strategic deterrent. Iran’s nuclear programme is still under development, and no concrete evidence exists of it possessing nuclear arms. The 2015 JCPOA agreement imposed strict oversight on Iran’s nuclear activities.

4. Strategic Leadership and Precision Operations

Under Operation Rising Lion, Israel launched targeted attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and top military leaders. These strikes killed key IRGC commanders like Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, and two nuclear scientists — delivering a massive blow to Iran’s leadership. Meanwhile, Israel’s Mossad remains one of the world’s most effective intelligence agencies, consistently foiling Iranian plans with precise intel and execution.

5. Iran’s Proxy Strategy Backfires

Iran has long relied on proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis to wage indirect wars. But in the past year, Israel and the U.S. have struck hard at these networks. Hezbollah’s bases have been bombed, and Hamas leadership has suffered serious losses. Iran’s proxy strategy has weakened, whereas Israel’s direct strike approach has proven more effective.

Iran’s Key Challenges

Several strategic and operational drawbacks have pushed Iran behind in this conflict:

1. Outdated Equipment: Much of Iran’s arsenal dates back to the 1970s or comes from ageing Russian tech. The country lacks modern stealth aircraft or advanced missile defence systems. Iran still operates F-14 Tomcats — decades-old fighters.
2. Leadership Vacuum: Israel’s precision strikes have eliminated several top Iranian commanders, disrupting its command and control structure.
3. Economic Crisis: Sanctions have crippled Iran’s economy, curbing oil exports and foreign currency reserves — directly hindering military upgrades.

Iran vs Israel: Strategic Comparison

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