US to send THAAD missile defense system and troops to Israel: Pentagon

The Pentagon said Sunday it will deploy a high-altitude anti-missile system and its US military crew to Israel to help the ally protect itself from potential Iranian missile attacks.

At the direction of US President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin “authorized the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and associated crew of US 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,” Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder said in a statement.

“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,” he said.

Ryder said the move was part of “the broader adjustments the US military has made in recent months” to help defend Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iran-backed militias.

The US deploy a THAAD battery to the Middle East last year following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel to defend American troops and interests in the region.

The US also deployed a THAAD battery to Israel in 2019 for training and an integrated air defense exercise.