Official announcements from the U.S. Department of Defense or White House

Pentagon Confirms First U.S. THAAD Deployment to Israel as Iran Warns Against U.S. Presence

Oct 13, 2024, 04:09 PM

The United States is deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, a $3 billion system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles in space, to Israel for the first time, along with American troops to operate it. Operated by approximately 100-200 U.S. soldiers, the system aims to bolster Israel's defenses against potential ballistic missile attacks from Iran following recent unprecedented attacks attributed to Iran. The Pentagon confirmed the deployment, stating that it was authorized by President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Iran has warned the United States to keep its military forces out of Israel, further intensifying the situation. The THAAD system is designed to intercept short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase, utilizing a "hit-to-kill" approach. This deployment signifies increased military cooperation between the two nations amid escalating tensions in the region.