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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Iran vs Israel: One has nukes, the other has numbers – who has the edge in West Asia's war game?
When Iranian missiles struck a hospital in Beersheba, southern Israel, on Thursday, an attack reportedly intended for the Israeli army and intelligence headquarters, it marked a new and dangerous phase of escalation in West Asia. The strike, confirmed by Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, came as retaliation for a string of Israeli assaults on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. This seventh consecutive day of conflict has plunged the region into a crisis reminiscent of the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, but with a far greater risk of international spillover. Reports now suggest that US President Donald Trump, in his campaign to regain geopolitical influence, is planning to join the Israeli side in its attacks, intensifying fears of a broader confrontation. Outside the White House, Trump kept reporters guessing about US involvement in Israel's offensive, saying, 'I may do it. I may not do it. Nobody knows what I'm going to do.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo Later, he claimed Iranian officials had expressed interest in talks in Washington but dismissed the overture, adding, 'It's a little late.' Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that his country 'will continue to attack Iran's nuclear programme sites', rejecting all calls for restraint. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for his part, has warned of 'irreparable damages' should the US formally join the conflict. Live Events As countries including India, Australia and New Zealand race to evacuate diplomats and citizens, Human Rights Activists, a Washington-based group, has reported that Iran has already suffered at least 639 deaths and over 1,329 injuries, making this the most serious conventional assault on its soil in nearly four decades. Demographics, manpower and military footprint In terms of sheer scale, Iran outmatches Israel on paper, by geography, manpower, and demographic weight. With a population of 88.3 million, according to the Global Firepower Index 2025, Iran commands a recruitment pool nearly nine times larger than Israel's 9.4 million. The country also spans 1.6 million square kilometres, roughly 75 times Israel's territory, giving Iran significant logistical depth in a prolonged war scenario. As per the index, Iran has an estimated 610,000 active personnel and 350,000 reserves, spread across its traditional armed forces and the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). A 2024 New York Times report, citing the International Institute for Strategic Studies, noted: 'The Iranian armed forces are among the largest in the Middle East, with at least 580,000 active-duty personnel and about 200,000 trained reserve personnel divided among the traditional army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.' Israel, by comparison, maintains 170,000 active troops, but a substantial 465,000-strong reserve force, regularly drilled and integrated into military readiness plans. An additional 35,000 paramilitary personnel bolster its security apparatus. However, Israel's numerical disadvantage is often offset by its strategic doctrine of qualitative military edge, focusing on elite training, special operations, cyberwarfare and technological superiority. The money behind the militaries In terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), a measure of domestic spending and economic resilience, Iran ranks 22nd globally with a 1.44 trillion dollar economy, while Israel ranks 51st at 471 billion dollars, according to the Global Firepower Index 2025. This makes Iran economically better positioned to sustain long-term mass mobilisation. Paradoxically, Israel spends twice as much on defence. With a 30 billion dollar annual military budget, double of Iran's 15 billion dollars, Israel punches far above its economic weight. Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution, in her commentary 'The Path Forward on Iran and Its Proxy Forces,' put it bluntly: 'These proxies have proven integral to Tehran's security, longevity and influence... providing strategic depth and access while insulating Iran's leadership from the full risk of their actions.' This indirect strategy also explains why Iran has avoided direct war with the US or Israel for decades. It could retaliate unconventionally, across multiple fronts. What triggered the latest war? According to CNN, Israeli intelligence believes Iran is months away from acquiring nuclear capability. Netanyahu feared a possible diplomatic breakthrough between Tehran and Trump, and struck first, trying to dismantle the programme before a new US-Iran deal restricted Israel's options. According to the Associated Press, recent Israeli and US operations have 'severely disabled' parts of Iran's proxy and covert military structures. Dozens of Iranian commanders, including IRGC chief Hossein Salami and General Mohammad Bagheri, were reportedly killed in strikes this week. Despite setbacks, Tehran's asymmetric tools – drones, missiles and proxy networks – remain capable of prolonging the war and widening its frontlines. A war with no easy winner Israel's technological sophistication, air dominance and nuclear edge make it one of the most formidable militaries per capita in the world. But Iran's demographic weight, missile arsenal and regional alliances render it a dangerous opponent. As Afshon Ostovar explained to the New York Times: 'There is a reason Iran has not been struck. It's not that Iran's adversaries fear Iran. It's that they realise any war against Iran is a very serious war.' And so, as missiles fly and diplomacy dies, the Middle East once again stands on the edge, its future hanging in the balance between firepower and fallout.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'I have a plan for everything...anything could happen': US President Trump on escalating Israel-Iran conflict
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) expressed concern over the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, stating that while he has a plan in place, the outcome remains uncertain. Trump again refused to say whether he would order a strike on Iran. "I have a plan for everything... anything could happen," he said. Trump expressed frustration over Iran's decision not to make a deal, stating, "They should have made the deal. I had a great deal for them." Trump mentioned that Iran wanted to meet and come to the White House, but his tone suggests uncertainty about the outcome. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More He reflected on past negotiations, expressed regret over Iran's missed opportunity to strike a deal, and hinted at the possibility of renewed talks. Trump also underscored the severity of the current crisis, mentioning ongoing meetings and the broader impact of the conflict. "I have a plan for everything, but we will see what happens. They should have made the deal. I had a great deal for them," Trump said, referring to past negotiations with Iran. Live Events He continued, "We talked about it for 60 days, and in the end, they decided not to do it, and now they wish they had. It's late to meet, but they want to, and they want to come to the White House. I may do that... Anything could happen..." Highlighting the gravity of the current developments, Trump added, "I have a meeting in the war room in a while. We are in the midst of something terrible. I hate to see so much death and destruction..." While not revealing his full strategy, Trump hinted that decisions may be made at the last moment. "I have ideas as to what I could do, but they are not final. I like to finalise one second before it's due. Things change. Especially with war..." Meanwhile, Israeli authorities said at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks. In Iran, 585 people have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded in the Israeli assault, reported Anadolu Agency, citing Iranian media reports. The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its seventh day. As Iran and Israel continue to trade strikes, US President Donald Trump held a situation room meeting on Wednesday to discuss US options, reported CNN. On Thursday, Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) said that air force is carrying out a "series of attacks" in Tehran and other parts of Iran. Earlier, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said air defence systems had been activated over Tehran.
Saba Yemen
2 days ago
- Sport
- Saba Yemen
Tunisia's ons Jabeur advances to quarterfinals of Berlin open Tennis championship
Berlin – Saba: Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur, ranked 61st in the world, pulled off a surprise victory on Wednesday by defeating Italy's Jasmine Paolini, the world No. 5, in straight sets (6-1, 6-3) to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the Berlin Open (a WTA 500 tournament). The 30-year-old Tunisian sealed the match against her Italian opponent in one hour and 16 minutes, marking her third head-to-head victory against Paolini compared to three losses, according to the Anadolu Agency. Jabeur dominated the match from the start, easily taking the first set 6-1. Despite Paolini's attempts to stage a comeback in the second set, she faltered against the Tunisian's strong performance, which ended 6-3. This marks Jabeur's first win over a top-five player since Wimbledon 2023 and her first consecutive match wins since last February. Jabeur, who clinched the Berlin Open title in 2022, will next face the winner of the match between Russia's Diana Shnaider and the Czech Republic's Markéta Vondroušová, as she aims to reach the semifinals of the grass-court tournament. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Spain presses for Israel arms ban, revival of Iran nuclear talks
ISTANBUL: Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Tuesday called for an arms embargo on Israel and urged the resumption of diplomatic negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported, citing media. Speaking to Bloomberg TV, Albares stressed the EU's responsibility in light of its strong economic ties with Israel. "The European Union is Israel's largest trading partner in the world. We must impose an arms embargo, not sell weapons to Israel while this war continues," he said, as reported by Spanish daily El Pais. Albares expressed deep concern over the lack of de-escalation between Israel and Iran, warning that the ongoing hostilities pose a serious threat to regional stability. He also emphasised the importance of reviving diplomatic dialogue with Iran regarding its nuclear activities, underscoring Spain's commitment to non-proliferation and regional peace. Tensions in the Middle East have intensified since Friday, following Israeli airstrikes targeting several locations across Iran, including military and nuclear sites, which triggered retaliatory attacks from Tehran. Iran stated that the Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 224 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries.– BERNAMA-ANADOLU
Gulf Today
5 days ago
- Gulf Today
Hot air balloon crash kills 1 in Turkey
A hot air balloon crashed in central Turkey on Sunday, leaving its pilot dead and 19 Indonesian tourists injured, a local official said. In a statement, the governor's office said the balloon was affected by a sudden change of wind. It was trying to make a hard landing near the village of Gozlukuyu in Aksaray province, when the pilot fell out of the balloon's basket and his feet got tangled in a rope, Aksaray Governor Mehmet Ali Kumbuzoglu said. "Unfortunately, our pilot got stuck under the basket and died,' he said, adding that the injured tourists were taken to a hospital. Hot air ballooning is a popular tourist activity over the rugged landscape of central Turkey, which is dotted with ancient churches hewn into cliff faces. The attractions include the "fairy chimneys' of Cappadocia - the tall, cone-shaped rock formations created by natural erosion over thousands of years that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Video from Ilhas News Agency showed one deflated balloon, its passenger basket lying on its side, as emergency services tended to injured people. An investigation is underway. State-run Anadolu Agency said another hot air balloon taking off from the same location of Ilhara Valley also made a hard landing early Sunday morning, and that 12 Indian tourists were slightly injured and taken to hospital. Two Spanish tourists were killed in 2022 when a hot air balloon made a hard landing following a sightseeing tour of Cappadocia. Associated Press
