The U.S. announced it is deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile defense system to Israel, and up to 100 military personnel to operate the battery. Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Patrick S. Ryder announced the THAAD battery will augment Israel’s missile-defense system, stating in a press release:
At the direction of the President, Secretary Austin authorized the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and associated crew of U.S. military personnel to Israel to help bolster Israel’s air defenses following Iran’s unprecedented attacks against Israel on April 13 and again on October 1. The THAAD Battery will augment Israel’s integrated air defense system. This action underscores the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran.
Ryder noted this is not the first time the United States has deployed a THAAD battery to Israel:
This is not the first time the United States has deployed a THAAD battery to the region. The President directed the military to deploy a THAAD battery to the Middle East last year following the October 7th attacks to defend American troops and interests in the region. The United States previously deployed a THAAD battery to Israel in 2019 for training and an integrated air defense exercise.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to the deployment, stating the decision puts the U.S. military personnel and that Iran is making an effort to avoid an “all-out war,” posting on X:
The US has been delivering record amount of arms to Israel. It is now also putting lives of its troops at risk by deploying them to operate US missile systems in Israel. While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests.
