Israel is believed to have significant air superiority over Hamas, with 601 military aircraft at its disposal
, which they warn will see “combined and coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land” in their bid to “demolish Hamas”.
Based on numbers alone, Israel would appear to have the upper hand. One of the world’s most powerful military forces, the nation gets military aid from the US and spent $23.4bn on its military in 2002, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. It is believed to have significant air superiority over Hamas with 601 military aircraft at its disposal including 142 helicopters, 196 F-16 fighter jets and two German-made Heron TP unmanned combat drones, forming what has been described as one of the “world’s most powerful aerial fighting forces”.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies report on Military Balance in 2022 stated that the IDF is “organised for territorial defence, short-term interventions in neighbouring states and limited regional power projection”. The organisation is known to have multiple rocket launchers and surface-to-surface missile launchers but the IISS said there was no exact figure on the number. Israeli intelligence has estimated Hamas has up to 30,000 at its disposal.
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