An Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter jet is refueled by a Boeing 707 Air Force at the Hatzerim Base in the Negev Desert, near Beersheva, Israel. UPI/Debbie Hill |
License Photo
NEW YORK, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Israel has the most powerful military in the Middle East, an independent analysis says, followed by the armies of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The ranking of 15 countries by the New York-based technology and news website Business Insider analyzed the balance of power in the Middle East, concluding is radically shifting and that every country is increasing its defense forces, and Monday offered a "Top 15" list of each country's operational capabilities and equipment. Israel leads the list.
"Pilot to pilot, airframe to airframe, the Israeli air force is the best in the world," a consultant to the survey said.
The list was compiled with the website's own research and interviews with Patrick Megahan of the Foundation of Defense think tank's Military Edge project, and Christ Harner of the Institute for the Study of War.
The analysis noted Israel's army has never attempted a coup of its government, unlike those of Turkey, Syria and Egypt; has a proven track record of success and spends a relatively small $15 billion on defense, a lower figure than Turkey or Saudi Arabia.
The list, in order, includes, Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.
The analysis also considered, but did not rank, non-national military forces in the region, including those of the Islamic State, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Kurdish peshmerga and al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.
