U.S. Deploys Air Defense System and Troops to Strengthen Israel’s Defenses Against Iran
The Pentagon announced on Sunday that the United States will send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to Israel, along with the necessary personnel to operate it. This decision comes as Iran has warned Washington to refrain from deploying American military forces in Israel.
According to Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin authorized the THAAD deployment following President Joe Biden’s directive. The system, Ryder stated, is intended to strengthen Israel’s air defenses in the wake of Iran’s ballistic missile attacks on Israel in April and October.
The deployment of this advanced missile defense system carries the risk of further escalating the conflict in the Middle East, despite extensive diplomatic efforts to prevent a full-scale war. Iran issued a warning on the social media platform X, often associated with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, referencing earlier reports about the potential U.S. deployment.
Since October 8, 2023, Israeli forces have been engaged in clashes with Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. The Lebanese militant group initiated rocket attacks across the border in support of its ally Hamas in Gaza. Last month, Israel launched a ground invasion into Lebanon.
Israel is widely believed to be preparing a military response to Iran’s October 1 attack, during which it fired approximately 180 missiles into Israel.
Before departing from Florida on Sunday, President Biden briefly addressed reporters, confirming his decision to deploy the THAAD battery “to defend Israel.” Biden’s remarks came following a visit to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, where he surveyed the damage caused by Hurricane Milton and met with first responders, residents, and local leaders.
In his statement, Ryder emphasized the deployment as “underscoring the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran.”
The exact origin of the THAAD battery and its arrival timeframe remain unclear. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli army spokesman, declined to provide a timeline but expressed gratitude for U.S. support.
Late last year, following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas militants, the U.S. deployed a THAAD battery to the Middle East, along with additional Patriot battalions to bolster protections for U.S. forces in the region. Ryder also noted that the U.S. sent a THAAD battery to Israel for training purposes in 2019.
The presence of a limited number of U.S. troops in Israel is not uncommon. The U.S. considers Israel a key regional ally and typically maintains a small contingent of forces there, supplemented by routine rotational deployments for training and exercises.
According to an April report by the Congressional Research Service, the Army maintains seven THAAD batteries. Each battery typically consists of six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, radio and radar equipment, and requires 95 soldiers to operate.
The THAAD is considered a complementary system to the Patriot but offers a wider defense area. It can engage targets at ranges of 150 to 200 kilometers (93 to 124 miles).