Israel vs. Iran: Who has the stronger military? [Video]

When Iran fired roughly 200 missiles toward Israel on Tuesday, Israeli air defences, with some assistance from the U.S., were able to shoot down most of them while sustaining minimal damage, according to officials.

Israel has vowed to strike back, as fears mount over further escalation of hostilities between the two countries. 

A quick overview of both countries might suggest that Iran, with a population more than nine times that of Israel’s and a significantly larger army, has an advantage.

Indeed, the Global Firepower Index, which ranks the military strengths of each country, says Iran has the advantage in personnel, and in both land and sea weaponry. 

But numbers don’t necessarily present the entire picture, analysts say.

“Israel certainly has more sophisticated military technology than Iran. They have the latest aircraft, armed with modern missiles and bombs,” said Shaan Shaikh, a deputy director fellow of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic …