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Can Yemen Military stand against Israel armed forces?

Yemen's Houthi rebels' missile & drone attack on Israel increase risk of regional conflict. US Navy shot down projectiles, Israel

By Ground report 01 Nov 2023

New Update

Can Yemen Military stand against Israel armed forces?

For the first time, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks targeting Israel. This development brings their main sponsor, Iran, closer to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip, increasing the risk of a regional conflict.

Earlier this month, the Houthis were suspected of launching an attack on Israel by firing missiles and drones over the vital Red Sea shipping lane. This assault led to the U.S. Navy shooting down the projectiles.

On Tuesday, however, Israel reported that its fighter jets and new Arrow missile defense system intercepted two rounds of incoming fire as they approached Eilat, a significant Red Sea shipping port in Israel.

The Houthis, who have controlled Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, since 2014 amid a devastating war in the country, later claimed three attacks on Israel in a military statement. However, they did not provide details on the timing of these operations or whether Tuesday’s salvos constituted one or two attacks.

In addition to the attack that led to U.S. intervention, there was an unexplained explosion last Thursday in the Egyptian resort town of Taba, near the Israeli border. This blast injured six people.

Yemen military power

Yemen has a significant military presence, boasting the second largest military force on the Arabian Peninsula, following Saudi Arabia. As of 2012, the army had approximately 66,700 active troops, the navy had 7,000, and the air force had 5,000. In 2007, Yemen reinstated compulsory military service.

In 2006, the defense budget accounted for about 40% of the total government budget and due to the implementation of the military draft and escalating internal security threats, it is likely to remain high.

However, the civil war in Yemen has split the armed forces between those loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and those supporting the pro-Yemeni government forces of president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

Israel military power

One of the most advanced militaries in the world backs Israel's well-trained, highly-equipped military force.
In 2023, Israel has 169,500 active military personnel in the army, navy and paramilitary.
A further 465,000 constitute its reserve forces, while 8,000 form part of its paramilitary.
Many believe widely that Israel possesses nuclear weapons, although it maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity and officially, it has neither confirmed nor denied its nuclear capabilities.

Conversely, the highly advanced and well-equipped military is what Israel is known for. The International Institute for Strategic Studies’ (IISS) Military Balance 2023 states that Israel's defense forces comprise 169,500 active military personnel.

Moreover, Israel maintains 465,000 personnel in its reserve forces. Many widely believe that Israel possesses nuclear weapons, despite its policy of deliberate ambiguity about its nuclear capabilities.

Israel’s military arsenal includes over 2,200 tanks, 530 artillery units, 339 combat-capable aircraft (including 196 F-16 jets, 83 F-15 jets, and 30 F-35 jets), and 142 helicopters (including 43 Apache attack helicopters). Its naval forces comprise 49 patrol and coastal combatants and five submarines. Furthermore, Israel operates the Iron Dome system, a mobile air defense system capable of intercepting and destroying short-range rockets.

Land:

Over 2,200 tanks
530 artillery units

Air:

339 combat-capable aircraft, including 309 fighter ground attack jets (196 F-16 jets, 83 F-15 jets, 30 F-35 jets)
142 helicopters, including 43 Apache attack helicopters

Naval:

49 patrol and coastal combatants
5 submarines

Israel also operates the Iron Dome system, a mobile air defense system capable of intercepting and destroying short-range rockets using radar technology. This system was operational from 2011 and was developed with assistance from the US.