Lebanon
10. Lebanon - The army is small but experienced in combat.
1. Scale:
The Lebanese armed forces have a total of 70,000 troops, including 58,000 troops and 12,000 internal security forces. It is a country with medium military strength in the Middle East.
The army is the main force, with 55,000 people, under the jurisdiction of one armored brigade and 10 infantry brigades; There is also a separate airborne brigade, two separate artillery regiments.
The navy has only 800 people and is equipped with several speedboats and patrol boats. The Air Force is about 15,000 people, but it is not strong.
2. Equipment:
The main equipment comes from the United States, the Soviet Union/Russia, France and other countries. For example, 150 M60 tanks, 100 T-54/55 tanks, 80 AMX-13 light tanks, 500 M113 armored vehicles, etc.
The Air Force has Thunder, UH-1 helicopters and a small number of fighter jets. The Navy is poorly equipped. The quality is generally average.
3. In terms of financial resources to sustain military spending:
In 2020, Lebanon spent $562 million on its military, or 2.7% of GDP. Limited by national strength, it is difficult to significantly increase it.
4. Combat effectiveness:
The Lebanese Army has extensive experience in civil warfare and counter-guerrilla warfare. However, the equipment is aging, and the overall combat effectiveness is average.
5. Circumstances and Evaluations:
Long-term political divisions have weakened the cohesion of the military. In 2020, the Beirut explosion hit the navy hard. The overall strength is limited.
Syria
9. Syria - Civil war weakens the military, but it is experienced in combat.
1. Scale:
The Syrian armed forces have 300,000 people, including 180,000 active military personnel and 120,000 reserve soldiers. Before the civil war, it was relatively strong and was one of the main military forces of the Arab countries.
The Syrian army has 10 armored divisions and 8 mechanized divisions, and the navy and air force are relatively small. There is also a large approval of military power.
2. Equipment:
The main equipment came from the USSR / Russia, including 1700 T-72 tanks, 2130 BMP-1 infantry combat vehicles, 270 MiG fighters, anti-aircraft missiles, etc. Weak naval and air forces.
Serious losses of equipment during the civil war were lost, about 60-70% were lost. But Russia offers partial additions.
3. Financial Resources:
GDP is small, military spending in 2020 was $1.5 billion. During the Civil War, it was as high as 26% of GDP. It is currently maintained at around 4%.
4. Combat Value:
The long civil war has allowed a large number of Syrian officers and soldiers to accumulate a wealth of experience in actual combat. Strong tactical combat capabilities. However, the equipment is aging and the overall combat power is limited.
5. Evaluation:
The Syrian army has successfully defused civil strife and defended its sovereignty. However, the economic vitality has been greatly damaged, and it is difficult for the military to return to the pre-civil war level.
Iraq
8. Iraq - Once one of the most important military forces in the Middle East, it is now weakened.
1. Scale:
Iraq's armed forces include 200,000 troops in the army, navy and air force. It is one of the strongest armies in the Middle East.
The army is the main force, with 14 divisions of about 140,000 people, as well as special operations brigades and other units. The Navy and Air Force are smaller.
2. Equipment:
The United States mainly provides 140 M1 tanks, more than 1,100 M113 armored vehicles, 36 F-16 fighters and other major equipment. There is also equipment aided by other countries.
The quality is generally high, but the quantity is insufficient, and the tax combat efficiency is low. The Navy and Air Force are less equipped.
3. Financial investment:
In 2021, Iraq's military spending was about $9 billion, accounting for 25% of government spending and 7% of GDP. It is moderate.
4. Combat effectiveness:
The actual combat training of getting rid of the control of the IS increased the level of part of the troops. But the army was internally divided, morale was low, and the overall combat power was limited.
5. Other aspects:
High-level corruption has seriously affected the building of the armed forces. Political issues with Kurdish forces and other issues are not resolved.
United Arab Emirates
7. United Arab Emirates - advanced military equipment, well-developed indigenous defense industry.
1. Scale:
The UAE Armed Forces have about 63,000 active personnel, including 45,000 in the Army and 18,000 in the Navy and Air Force. There are also reserve and paramilitary forces. The overall scale is small.
2. Equipment:
The UAE imports a large number of advanced weapons and equipment from the United States and France, and has one of the most modern armies in the Middle East.
It is mainly equipped with J-15, J-16, Mirage 2000 fighters, Harpoon missile boats, Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 main battle tanks, Bison armored vehicles, etc.
3. Military Spending:
The UAE's military spending in 2020 was US$19.3 billion, accounting for 5.5% of GDP, the highest among the Gulf countries. Adequate funding to support arms imports.
4. Combat Effectiveness:
Although it lacks actual combat experience, its advanced equipment and emphasis on training have enabled the UAE military to have the strongest overall combat capability among the Gulf countries.
5. Evaluation:
The UAE relies on its deep pockets to build its military power and become a regional power. But it is not commensurate with the size of the population.
Arab countries of the Persian Gulf
6. Arab countries of the Persian Gulf (Kuwait, Bahrain, etc.) - small population, but advanced weaponry.
1. Scale:
The armed forces of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and other countries have about 400,000 active personnel. Mainly the army, the navy and air force are smaller. The overall strength is strong.
2. Equipment:
These countries import large quantities of advanced weapons and equipment made in the United States and Europe, and are the countries with the most advanced military equipment in the Middle East.
It is mainly equipped with various types of fighters, attack helicopters, tanks, warships, missile boats, etc. It has certain strategic strike and power projection capabilities.
3. Military Spending:
In 2020, the total military spending of these countries was about $103 billion. Among them, Saudi Arabia ranks first with 32 billion, accounting for about 8% of GDP. Abundant funds.
4. Combat Effectiveness:
With the exception of Saudi Arabia, which has a little combat experience, the armies of most countries have limited combat experience. But it is well-equipped, well-trained, and the overall combat power is strong.
5. Evaluation:
These countries rely on their wealth to build a first-class conventional military force, and they can generally be called the "military powerhouses" of the Middle East.
Iran
5. Iran - develops ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial systems (UAVs) and has a strong autonomous military-industrial capability.
1. Scale:
Iran's conventional armed forces have about 525,000 active personnel and about 3.5 million in reserve. The power is second only to Egypt in the Middle East.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has about 130,000 people, is parallel to the regular army and is part of the national armed forces.
2. Equipment:
It has been sanctioned for a long time, and the main equipment comes from self-made and Russian-made. It has strategic strike forces such as the "Gren-2" short-range ballistic missile.
Conventional equipment such as fighters, tanks, destroyers, etc., is of average quality and insufficient quantity. The overall technology generation gap is 20-30 years in the United States.
3. Financial investment:
Iran's military spending in 2020 was about $13 billion, or about 2.8% of GDP. Due to the size of the economy, it is already quite difficult to maintain the current military strength.
4. Combat effectiveness:
Except for a small number of elite units, most of the regular units are under-trained, outdated in equipment, and have average overall combat effectiveness.
5. Evaluation:
Iran's military maintains its homeland defense capability primarily through a large number of militias. Although the overall strength ranks among the highest in the Middle East, the quality is uneven.
Saudi Arabia
4. Saudi Arabia - the third largest military spender in the world and has advanced weapons and equipment.
1. Scale:
The total number of Saudi Arabia's standing armed forces is about 250,000, of which about 180,000 are the army and national guard, and about 70,000 are the navy and air force. The total number of paramilitary and border guards under the Ministry of the Interior exceeds 300,000. The scale is second only to Egypt in the Middle East.
2. Equipment:
Relying on abundant financial resources, it has purchased a large number of American-made and European-made weapons and equipment. For example, there are about 260 fighters of various types, about 600 main battle tanks, and 25,000 infantry vehicles. It is the most well-equipped in the Gulf countries.
3. Military spending:
In 2020, Saudi Arabia's official military spending was $31.82 billion, real or higher. Its proportion of GDP is around 8%, ranking among the top 10 in the world.
4. Combat Value:
Except for the limited experience accumulated in ground operations and air strikes in Yemen, most of the troops have little experience in actual combat. But it is well-equipped, well-trained, and the overall combat power is strong.
5. Evaluation:
With its deep pockets, Saudi Arabia has built a military power with significant influence in the Middle East. In terms of population size, its military power appears to be too large.
Israel
3. Israel - Advanced military technology and extremely high state of readiness.
1. Scale:
The IDF has about 160,000 active personnel and about 450,000 in reserve. The system of all the people being soldiers can be mobilized on a large scale in wartime. The strength is second to none in the Middle East.
The main units include armored, engineered, artillery, paratroopers and other arms. There are also navy, air force and intelligence special forces.
2. Equipment:
Mainly from the United States. It has about 360 advanced fighters such as F-15, F-16 and F-35. And self-made "Arrow" series missiles and other sophisticated equipment. It has the most advanced weaponry in the Middle East.
3. Financial Investment:
Israel's military spending in 2020 was about $21.5 billion, or 5.6% of GDP. The United States provides significant military assistance every year. Abundant funds.
4. Combat Strength:
Frequent actual combat has enabled Israeli officers and men to accumulate rich experience. With well-equipped equipment and high-level training, its troops have the strongest combat power in the Middle East.
5. Evaluation:
Israel has built a high-quality force that is both "qualitative and quantitative" and has a strong combat capability.
Egypt
2. Egypt - the second largest military force in the Middle East, with about 450,000 troops.
1. Scale:
Egypt's armed forces are about 1.15 million in active service, ranking first in the Middle East and 10th in the world.
It includes nearly 450,000 troops, 180,000 air and air defenses, about 40,000 navy and coast guard, and paramilitary forces.
2. Equipment:
It comes from a wide range of sources, mainly for the United States and Russia. It has nearly 1,000 main battle tanks and a large number of armored vehicles.
The Air Force has more than 600 fighters such as F-16, MiG-29 and Mirage 2000. The Navy has frigates, submarines, etc. Overall well equipped.
3. Military Spending:
Egypt's military spending in 2020 was about $4.7 billion. There has been an increase in recent years, but it is still relatively limited.
4. Combat Effectiveness:
With the exception of border conflicts, the main forces lacked real combat experience. However, the overall level of training using anti-terrorism and other combat examples is acceptable.
5. Evaluation:
Egypt relies on a large armed force to maintain regional influence. However, military spending cannot make ends meet, and the task of reform is arduous.
Turkey
1. Turkey - has the largest army in the region, with about 600,000 troops.
1. Scale:
With about 415,000 troops in active service, the Turkish army is the second-largest NATO army. It includes nearly 350,000 troops, about 45,000 air forces, and about 20,000 navy and coast guards. The overall scale is large.
2. Equipment:
It mainly comes from the United States, as well as German and domestic equipment. It has about 2500 main battle tanks and about 7000 armored vehicles. The Air Force has more than 200 F-16 fighters. Scale and quality are equally important.
3. Military spending:
Turkey's military spending in 2020 was about $15 billion. High military spending has put a burden on the economy, but it has declined slightly in recent years.
4. Combat Effectiveness:
The Turkish army has extensive experience in counter-terrorism and warfare. The conventional combat capability is relatively strong in the region. High weapon self-sufficiency is also an advantage.
5. Evaluation:
Turkey relies on a strong defense industry and military power to maintain regional influence. It is the "pivot country" of South NATO.