US Sends Thaad Missile System to Israel After Iranian Attack
The Pentagon has announced that it is deploying a powerful Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) system to Israel. This advanced anti-missile defense system, operated by U.S. troops, is meant to reinforce Israel’s air defense capabilities following a massive missile strike from Iran earlier this month.
The deployment comes after Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1, prompting President Joe Biden to emphasize that the move is to “defend Israel” as tensions in the region escalate. Israel is expected to retaliate for the attack, which Iranian officials say was in response to the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, an operation attributed to Israel.
The decision to send Thaad to Israel has drawn attention, particularly as it increases the U.S. military presence in the region, with approximately 100 American troops being deployed to operate the system. While the U.S. has had a small military presence in Israel before, this marks a significant escalation, highlighting deeper U.S. involvement in the broader Middle East conflict.
While Israel already boasts an extensive missile defense network, including the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, Thaad is specifically designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitudes, which could provide additional protection against threats like Iran’s Fattah-1 ballistic missiles. These weapons, which are launched into the Earth’s atmosphere before descending at high speeds, are particularly difficult to defend against.
The effectiveness of Israel’s existing missile defenses has been a subject of intense discussion. While Israeli officials have praised their systems for intercepting many of the missiles fired during the October 1 attack, satellite images have revealed significant damage, including at Nevatim Airbase, which houses Israel’s fleet of F-35 fighter jets. One missile reportedly struck Tel Aviv, leaving a massive crater near the headquarters of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
Although the Thaad deployment is being framed as part of the Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel, it also raises questions about whether the U.S. is preparing for more intense Israeli strikes on Iran. President Biden has publicly opposed any Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear or energy facilities, fearing that such an escalation could lead to a wider conflict and disrupt global markets.
Despite this, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed that Israel’s response to Iran will be both “lethal and surprising.” Israeli forces have already been conducting extensive military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, targeting missile storage facilities and leadership figures. The aim, according to Israeli officials, is to neutralize Hezbollah’s capacity for rocket attacks, which have plagued northern Israel for months.
This latest U.S. military move not only strengthens Israel’s defenses but also reflects the broader recalibrations Washington has made in recent months to protect its personnel from Iranian and Iranian-backed group attacks across the region. However, the deployment has not gone unnoticed by Iran, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warning that the U.S. is risking its own troops’ safety by stationing them in Israel.
While Thaad was briefly deployed to Israel in 2019 for a military exercise, this marks a rare non-exercise deployment of U.S. forces in Israel, underlining the gravity of the current crisis. As tensions continue to rise, the world is watching to see how this deployment will impact the unfolding conflict.
