The Israel Defence Forces (IDF), considered one of the best-armed militaries in the world, faces a formidable military challenge in the form of Hamas, a militant group based in the Gaza Strip that has a long network of regional allies in the form of Iran and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Despite the extensive destruction caused by Israeli air strikes in Gaza, it has been reported that the military and political leadership view a ground operation as essential in order to effectively cripple Hamas.
Thus, the IDF was on the verge of sending troops into Gaza, with localised raids already being carried out by the Israelis there.
Amidst these developments, there has been a surge of interest in the IDF on the internet. Taking into consideration this perspective, Sputnik India offers its readers a deep understanding of the exceptional strengths and areas for improvement of the renowned armed forces of the Jewish nation.
Active Personnel in Israel Defence Forces
According to a report published by the UK-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the number of active personnel in the Israeli Defence Forces currently stands at 169,500.
Of these, 126,000 are in the army, while the rest are in the air force and navy.
Additionally, Israel has 400,000 reservists in its ranks. Reservists are ordinary citizens who have completed mandatory military training, as required by the country's laws. This ensures that every citizen is prepared for combat situations.
Notably, Israel has mobilised 360,000 reservists following the brutal Hamas infiltration, media reports suggest.
Israeli army armoured vehicles roll towards the border with the Gaza Strip at an undisclosed location in southern Israel on October 15, 2023.
© AFP 2023 YURI CORTEZ
IDF's Limitations and Weaknesses
Group Captain Uttam Kumar Devnath, a former officer of the Indian Air Force, highlights that the Israeli Army, despite their strengths, is not without its limitations.
"With a total population of just over nine million, Israel can't afford to have a standing army of one million soldiers like India, China or the US," Devnath told Sputnik India.
Therefore, he underlined that Israel is totally dependent on reservists.
Devnath observed that over half of the Israeli Army comprises reservists, who are regular citizens. These individuals willingly dedicate themselves for a brief period of time, receiving compulsory military training before resuming their civilian lives.
"This is the biggest limitation of the Israeli Army," he underlined.
Israel's Weapons' Stockpile
Defence experts believe that Israel's defence systems are considered the most advanced in the world.
For example, before the Hamas attack, Israel's Iron Dome missile system was widely regarded as the most technologically advanced rocket defence platform in the world.
For example, before the Hamas attack, Israel's Iron Dome missile system was widely regarded as the most technologically advanced rocket defence platform in the world.
According to his assessment, Israel has approximately 10 regiments capable of intercepting up to 800 rockets, even when under attack from an adversary.
However, Hamas fired nearly 6,000 rockets during the 7 October attack, states Eyal Pinko, a former head of the intelligence division in the Israeli Prime Minister's office in an interview with Sputnik India.
While Pinko has defended the Iron Dome system, this recent incident has led to doubts regarding its effectiveness.
IDF's Strengths
In addition to the Iron Dome, the British defence think tank highlights that Israel boasts an impressive arsenal of 1,300 Merkava tanks, which were first introduced into service in 1970.
These tanks, locally manufactured by Israeli defence firm Mantak, serve as the linchpin of IDF's Armoured Corps.
Also, Israel has a vast reserve of armoured vehicles, artillery guns, and armed and unarmed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
In addition, Tel Aviv boasts an impressive fleet of cutting-edge submarines and warplanes, including the state-of-the-art F-35s of American origin.
The US think tank Nuclear Threat Initiative estimates the number of Israel's submarines at 5 while its fighter jet figures are estimated to be somewhere in the region of 340 to 350.
Moreover, it is rumored that Israel possesses approximately 90 nuclear warheads in its arsenal, despite not being recognised as a nuclear power by the international community.
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system fires to intercept a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, near Sderot, Israel, Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
© AP Photo / Ohad Zwigenberg
IDF's Weaknesses
Despite Israel's possession of state-of-the-art weapons, the recent Hamas attack has significantly undermined the credibility of the country's defence forces and intelligence services.
"How is it that the Hamas militants were able to attack Israel's military installations? How is it that they were not detected, how is it that the Mossad was not able to intercept the attack, why their interceptors could not stop the Hamas rockets and how their tanks were attacked," asked former Indian Army officer Major Mohommed Ali Shah in an interview with Sputnik India.
Shah noted that Israel had been taken completely by surprise and ambushed.
He commented that since the attack, doubts have been raised about whether the Israeli Defence Forces are as strong as the world perceives them to be.
"In a nutshell, the belief in the power of the Israeli military has taken a definitive hit," Shah summed up.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine reached an unprecedented intensity after a heinous attack by Hamas on the Jewish state on October 7th. In the deadliest attack on Israeli territory since its formation in 1948, the Palestinian military movement claimed the lives of more than 1,400 people and kidnapped approximately 200 people.
In retaliation, the Israeli Air Force launched an air campaign targeting Hamas military infrastructure and command centres. The Israeli bombardment of Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 people in Palestine. The IDF also claimed to have eliminated over 1,500 Hamas fighters who infiltrated its territory.