The United States announced the deployment of troops and an advanced anti-missile system to Israel in response to recent missile attacks from Iran.
President Joe Biden, on Sunday, emphasized that this move aims to enhance Israel’s defense capabilities as the country considers its retaliation against Iran, following an incident on October 1 when Iran launched over 180 missiles at Israel.
U.S. officials have reportedly been advising Israel to carefully calibrate its response to prevent igniting a larger conflict in the Middle East.
Biden has expressed his opposition to potential Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and concerns over attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder indicated that this deployment is part of broader military adjustments made by the U.S. to support Israel and protect American personnel from threats posed by Iran and its allies.
While U.S. military assistance to Israel is not uncommon, direct troop deployments are rare due to Israel’s strong military capabilities.
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which typically requires about 100 personnel to operate, consists of six truck-mounted launchers with eight interceptors each and advanced radar technology.
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This system is designed to enhance Israel’s already robust air defense against ballistic missiles.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, criticized the U.S. deployment, claiming it jeopardizes the safety of American troops and warning that Iran has no limits in defending its interests.
Despite this, analysts suggest that Iran is likely to avoid direct conflict with the U.S., making the presence of American forces in Israel a significant factor in its strategic calculations.
The Pentagon has not disclosed the timeline for the deployment of the THAAD system, which was previously stationed in southern Israel during drills in 2019.
The THAAD system, developed by Lockheed Martin and utilizing advanced radar built by Raytheon, is designed to counter short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.
