How big is Israel’s Army?

In the wake of Israel’s aggression against Lebanon and boiling tensions with Iran, let’s look back at the size of Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The total size of the IDF troops reportedly amounts to 176,500 active-duty soldiers. Draft requirements apply to all citizen or permanent residents who have reached the age of 18.

IDF branches include Ground Forces, Air Force and Navy with their estimated size, based on open sources

• Ground Forces – some 126,000 active personnel and about 400,000 reservists
• Air Force – roughly 34,000 active personnel and 55,000 reservists
• Navy – nearly 9,500 active personnel and 10,000 reservists

Most prominent Israeli-developed weapons

• Merkava main battle tank
• Achzarit armored personnel carrier
• Iron Dome missile defense system

IDF has in total

• 7,700 infantry fighting vehicles with 1,300 combat tanks
• 684 aircraft
• 38 patrol ships, 8 missile boats and 5 submarines

Israel's military spending in 2022 totaled at $23.4 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

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Russian reporter blocked from asking Baerbock questions, faces UN accreditation downgrade

The UN Secretariat downgraded the accreditation of Valentin Bogdanov, head of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company's (VGTRK) New York bureau, due to questions he posed to Volodymyr Zelensky and Annalena Baerbock at the UN General Assembly, the broadcaster reported on its Telegram channel.

"The organization claims that Bogdanov violated media access rules, but no specific violations allegedly committed by the journalist were mentioned," it said.

On September 29, a member of German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock's delegation rudely prevented Bogdanov from asking her a question during the UN General Assembly, effectively preventing him from fulfilling his journalistic duties, Valentin Bogdanov told Sputnik.

"He rushed at us, and later other representatives joined him. I’m not sure whether they were diplomats or journalists. They didn’t allow us to participate in the press conference... Physical interference is a blatant violation under any law. Touching or pushing people is unacceptable and carries penalties," Bogdanov said, recounting the interaction with Berbock's staff.

Russian journalists left the press conference, hoping for a response from the UN Secretariat. However, a few days later they learned that their accreditation had been downgraded.

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❗️ The IDF says it conducted three strikes in a southern suburb of Beirut

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Lebanese media have published a map showing the alleged situation on the border:

🔹 Areas marked in red indicate where the Israeli army made incursions and where ambushes were set up.

🔹 After suffering losses, IDF forces retreated. Reports indicate three "Merkava" tanks were destroyed. Hezbollah fighters are actively using small arms, including heavy machine guns, as well as guided anti-tank missiles, which are targeting Israeli armored vehicles and troop concentrations.

🔹 A helicopter was attacked from the ground with a Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) surface-to-air missile after which, as noted in a Hezbollah press release, helicopters have not been seen near the border.

🔹 Areas marked in blue represent strikes on Israeli territory from Lebanon over the past day.

🔹 According to multiple reports the Israeli army lost between 8 and 20 soldiers in a single day, with dozens more wounded. The heaviest losses occurred at dawn when the IDF’s elite Egoz special forces attempted to infiltrate Lebanese territory.

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Iran-Israel escalation: is a regional conflict in the Middle East imminent?

Iran’s missile strike on Israel on October 1 has garnered support from the Axis of Resistance, while Tel Aviv has threatened Iran with "consequences."

Who might align with Iran if Israel retaliates?

🔸 Yahya Saria, a spokesman for the Yemeni Shiite group Houthis, stated on October 2 that the group supports Iran’s missile strike and is ready to "join any joint military operations against the Israeli enemy." He also confirmed the Houthis targeted Israeli military positions with three Quds-5 cruise missiles.

🔸 The Palestinian movement Hamas praised the "heroic missile launch" by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and claimed responsibility for the October 1 attack in Jaffa, which resulted in seven deaths and 16 injuries in Israel.

🔸 The Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee warned via Telegram that if the US assists Israel in attacking Iran, "all American bases and interests in Iraq and the region will be targeted."

🔸 Hezbollah, a Shiite movement, is already engaged in ground clashes with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in southern Lebanon as Israel launched its military operation.

How might Israel respond?

🔸 Israeli officials, quoted by US and Israeli media, indicated that Tel Aviv may strike Iran’s critical infrastructure, including gas and oil facilities, nuclear sites, and air defense systems. Targeted assassinations are also reportedly under consideration.

How have international players reacted?

🔸 The Russian Embassy in Israel stated on October 2 that "it is time to immediately cease military actions."

🔸 The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed "deep concerns" over the situation, attributing the new escalation to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

🔸 The G7 condemned Iran’s missile strike on Israel.

🔸 US President Joe Biden emphasized that Israel’s response to Iran should be "proportional" and did not endorse strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

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