Tensions between Israel and Iran are escalating dangerously. A recent Iranian missile barrage of around 200 missiles targeted various locations in Israel on October 1st of this year, including the Nevatim Air Base, home to Israel’s F-35 fighter jets. This attack is widely thought to be retaliation for a previous Israeli operation, particularly the destruction of an Iranian drone facility in mid-September. (This is what will happen if Israel and Iran go to war.)
However, Israel and Iran are not the only countries in the Middle East that are constantly dealing with open conflict. 24/7 Wall St. is taking a look at how each of these countries measures up on a few different levels, and which have the strongest military forces. (This is every attack helicopter, fighter jet, and aircraft in the Israeli Air Force.)
To determine the countries with the strongest military might in the Middle East, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. Global Firepower ranked 145 countries based on their PowerIndex, a composite of over 60 measures in categories such as military might, financials, logistical capability, and geography. The smaller the PowerIndex value the more powerful a nation’s theoretical conventional fighting capability is. We included supplemental information regarding active military personnel, military aircraft, vehicles, and naval power. We also included supplemental information regarding active military personnel, military aircraft, vehicles, and naval power.
Why Are We Covering This?
Understanding the military dynamics in the Middle East is essential given the region’s historical and ongoing geopolitical tensions. For decades, the Middle East has been shaped by conflicts, religious divisions, and territorial disputes, making it a hotspot for conflict. Whether it’s Iran’s growing influence or the strategic role of countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel, the military forces in this region heavily influence global security and energy markets.
Here is a look at the strongest militaries in the Middle East:
17. Lebanon
- Active military personnel: 60,000
- Reserve military personnel: 35,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 65,000
- Total military personnel: 160,000
- Total military aircraft: 81
- Total helicopters: 69
- Total military vehicles: 4,522
- Total tanks: 204
- Total artillery units: 458
- Total navy ships and submarines: 69
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.4283 – #118 out of 145
Lebanon has a total population of 5.3 million. Of this population, 1.8 million are fit to serve in the military.
16. Afghanistan
- Active military personnel: 0
- Reserve military personnel: 0
- Paramilitary personnel: 80,000
- Total military personnel: 80,000
- Total military aircraft: 17
- Total helicopters: 11
- Total military vehicles: 6,555
- Total tanks: 0
- Total artillery units: 0
- Total navy ships and submarines: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.2715 – #115 out of 145
Afghanistan has a total population of 39.2 million. Of this population, 8.6 million are fit to serve in the military.
15. Bahrain
- Active military personnel: 18,400
- Reserve military personnel: 110,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 1,500
- Total military personnel: 129,900
- Total military aircraft: 120
- Total helicopters: 74
- Total military vehicles: 2,598
- Total tanks: 180
- Total artillery units: 64
- Total navy ships and submarines: 58
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.7163 – #86 out of 145
Bahrain has a total population of 1.6 million. Of this population, 714,788 are fit to serve in the military.
14. Yemen
- Active military personnel: 66,700
- Reserve military personnel: 0
- Paramilitary personnel: 20,000
- Total military personnel: 86,700
- Total military aircraft: 177
- Total helicopters: 61
- Total military vehicles: 4,800
- Total tanks: 55
- Total artillery units: 26
- Total navy ships and submarines: 38
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.4692 – #81 out of 145
Yemen has a total population of 31.6 million. Of this population, 8.9 million are fit to serve in the military.
13. Jordan
- Active military personnel: 100,500
- Reserve military personnel: 65,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 35,000
- Total military personnel: 200,500
- Total military aircraft: 265
- Total helicopters: 148
- Total military vehicles: 24,148
- Total tanks: 1,365
- Total artillery units: 283
- Total navy ships and submarines: 27
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.4651 – #80 out of 145
Jordan has a total population of 11.0 million. Of this population, 3.0 million are fit to serve in the military.
12. Oman
- Active military personnel: 42,600
- Reserve military personnel: 100,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 10,000
- Total military personnel: 152,600
- Total military aircraft: 128
- Total helicopters: 31
- Total military vehicles: 5,019
- Total tanks: 154
- Total artillery units: 165
- Total navy ships and submarines: 22
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.4448 – #78 out of 145
Oman has a total population of 3.8 million. Of this population, 1.3 million are fit to serve in the military.
11. Kuwait
- Active military personnel: 72,000
- Reserve military personnel: 24,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 7,500
- Total military personnel: 103,500
- Total military aircraft: 144
- Total helicopters: 60
- Total military vehicles: 4,409
- Total tanks: 367
- Total artillery units: 74
- Total navy ships and submarines: 123
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.4261 – #77 out of 145
Kuwait has a total population of 3.1 million. Of this population, 1.4 million are fit to serve in the military.
10. Qatar
- Active military personnel: 66,550
- Reserve military personnel: 15,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 5,500
- Total military personnel: 87,050
- Total military aircraft: 228
- Total helicopters: 67
- Total military vehicles: 5,544
- Total tanks: 99
- Total artillery units: 58
- Total navy ships and submarines: 123
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.0789 – #63 out of 145
Qatar has a total population of 2.5 million. Of this population, 486,164 are fit to serve in the military.
9. Syria
- Active military personnel: 170,000
- Reserve military personnel: 50,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 50,000
- Total military personnel: 270,000
- Total military aircraft: 452
- Total helicopters: 153
- Total military vehicles: 14,550
- Total tanks: 2,720
- Total artillery units: 2,695
- Total navy ships and submarines: 47
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.0026 – #60 out of 145
Syria has a total population of 22.9 million. Of this population, 12.7 million are fit to serve in the military.
8. United Arab Emirates
- Active military personnel: 65,000
- Reserve military personnel: 130,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 12,000
- Total military personnel: 207,000
- Total military aircraft: 560
- Total helicopters: 246
- Total military vehicles: 12,253
- Total tanks: 354
- Total artillery units: 282
- Total navy ships and submarines: 79
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.8083 – #51 out of 145
The United Arab Emirates has a total population of 10.0 million. Of this population, 4.9 million are fit to serve in the military.
7. Iraq
- Active military personnel: 193,000
- Reserve military personnel: 0
- Paramilitary personnel: 100,000
- Total military personnel: 293,000
- Total military aircraft: 371
- Total helicopters: 197
- Total military vehicles: 39,872
- Total tanks: 848
- Total artillery units: 1,727
- Total navy ships and submarines: 68
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.7441 – #45 out of 145
Iraq has a total population of 41.2 million. Of this population, 14.0 million are fit to serve in the military.
6. Saudi Arabia
- Active military personnel: 257,000
- Reserve military personnel: 0
- Paramilitary personnel: 150,000
- Total military personnel: 407,000
- Total military aircraft: 914
- Total helicopters: 262
- Total military vehicles: 20,694
- Total tanks: 1,485
- Total artillery units: 3,253
- Total navy ships and submarines: 57
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.3235 – #23 out of 145
Saudi Arabia has a total population of 36.0 million. Of this population, 17.2 million are fit to serve in the military.
5. Israel
- Active military personnel: 170,000
- Reserve military personnel: 465,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 35,000
- Total military personnel: 670,000
- Total military aircraft: 612
- Total helicopters: 146
- Total military vehicles: 43,407
- Total tanks: 1,370
- Total artillery units: 950
- Total navy ships and submarines: 67
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.2596 – #17 out of 145
Israel has a total population of 9.0 million. Of this population, 3.2 million are fit to serve in the military.
4. Egypt
- Active military personnel: 440,000
- Reserve military personnel: 480,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 300,000
- Total military personnel: 1,220,000
- Total military aircraft: 1,080
- Total helicopters: 338
- Total military vehicles: 77,596
- Total tanks: 5,340
- Total artillery units: 3,046
- Total navy ships and submarines: 140
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.2283 – #15 out of 145
Egypt has a total population of 109.5 million. Of this population, 37.7 million are fit to serve in the military.
3. Iran
- Active military personnel: 610,000
- Reserve military personnel: 350,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 220,000
- Total military personnel: 1,180,000
- Total military aircraft: 551
- Total helicopters: 129
- Total military vehicles: 65,765
- Total tanks: 1,996
- Total artillery units: 2,630
- Total navy ships and submarines: 101
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.2269 – #14 out of 145
Iran has a total population of 87.6 million. Of this population, 41.2 million are fit to serve in the military.
2. Pakistan
- Active military personnel: 654,000
- Reserve military personnel: 550,000
- Paramilitary personnel: 500,000
- Total military personnel: 1,704,000
- Total military aircraft: 1,434
- Total helicopters: 352
- Total military vehicles: 50,523
- Total tanks: 3,742
- Total artillery units: 3,990
- Total navy ships and submarines: 114
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.1711 – #9 out of 145
Pakistan has a total population of 247.7 million. Of this population, 84.2 million are fit to serve in the military.
1. Turkey
- Active military personnel: 355,200
- Reserve military personnel: 378,700
- Paramilitary personnel: 150,000
- Total military personnel: 883,900
- Total military aircraft: 1,069
- Total helicopters: 502
- Total military vehicles: 55,104
- Total tanks: 2,231
- Total artillery units: 2,785
- Total navy ships and submarines: 186
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.1697 – #8 out of 145
Turkey has a total population of 83.6 million. Of this population, 3.6 million are fit to serve in the military.
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