Tel Aviv: Israels ongoing conflict with Iran, despite appearing as a mismatch on paper due to Iran’s significantly larger population, showcases the formidable capabilities of Israel’s military forces. With advanced weaponry largely supplied by the United States, Israel is leveraging its sophisticated arsenal to challenge its much larger adversary.

According to BBC, Israel’s air force has been actively targeting Iran’s ground-based radar and launchers. Before launching their attacks, Israel positioned intelligence operatives inside Iran to disrupt its defensive capabilities. Mossad agents utilized drones smuggled into the country to target Iran’s air defense systems, leading to the elimination of many top-level Iranian commanders and weakening Iran’s response efforts.

While Iran possessed what the US described as the “largest ballistic missile arsenal” in the Middle East prior to the conflict, with estimates ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 missiles, Israel’s attacks have already impacted some of these arsenals and the factories where they were produced. Israel claims to have destroyed a third of Iran’s surface-to-surface launchers, although Iran continues to launch missile attacks into Israel, penetrating its advanced air defenses. Despite this, Iran’s missile program remains a significant threat to Israel.

Iran’s investments in regional allies such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been severely diminished by Israeli actions over the past two years. While the Houthis in Yemen have occasionally launched missile salvos into Israel, their threat level has been reduced following a US bombing campaign.

Iran retains the capability to threaten Western interests in the region through Iranian-backed militant groups in Iraq, which have targeted Western military bases. In response, the US and the UK have taken precautions, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordering additional RAF Typhoon jets to Cyprus to ensure the safety of Western personnel in the area.

Israel’s military campaign relies heavily on US support, receiving significant military aid and American-made weapons. Despite this backing, there are limits to what Israel can achieve. While air power can disrupt Iran’s nuclear program, it is unlikely to destroy it entirely or lead to the toppling of the Iranian regime. Historical examples show that air campaigns often result in chaos and destruction but rarely deliver decisive victories.