American troops offload a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launcher from a C-17 Globemaster III.
The Pentagon announced on Sunday that the U.S. will deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to Israel, along with the necessary personnel to operate it, in response to recent Iranian missile attacks. This decision, directed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, aims to strengthen Israel’s air defenses after attacks in April and October.
Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, stated that this move underscores the U.S.’s steadfast commitment to defending Israel and Americans in Israel from further Iranian ballistic missile threats. The deployment comes amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East, particularly between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, which intensified after Hezbollah began launching rockets in early October.
The announcement follows a warning from Iran, urging the U.S. to keep its military forces out of Israel, which was expressed through a social media post attributed to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The THAAD battery, which includes six truck-mounted launchers, radar equipment, and about 100 soldiers, is an anti-missile defense system.