Israel vs Iran Military Balance 2026: Capabilities, Nuclear Programs & Regional Impact

Israel maintains a decisive military edge over Iran in 2026 in every conventional category: air superiority (F-35Is vs Iran's aging fleet), missile defense (Iron Dome, Arrow, David's Sling), special operations, intelligence, and cyber capabilities. Iran's strategic advantages are asymmetric: proxy networks across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza that allow it to open multiple fronts simultaneously without directly engaging Israeli forces. Iran's nuclear program remains the most consequential threat variable, with IAEA assessments indicating enrichment levels that could support weapons-grade material in months if a political decision were made. The balance is best understood not as a straightforward military comparison but as a hybrid competition between conventional dominance and asymmetric escalation.