Saudi Arabia’s first THAAD battery is now fully operational, top US general says
Saudi Arabia’s first Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery is now fully operational, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Gen. Erik Kurilla said on Thursday after a recent trip to the Middle East.
Kurilla went to Saudi Arabia from June 30 to July 1, according to a readout of his visit, where he met with Saudi Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.
Discussions centered on shared security concerns and strengthening the military-to-military relationship, including cooperation and interoperability, according to CENTCOM.
“Gen. Kurilla congratulated the Royal Saudi Armed Forces on achieving full operational capability of their first Theater High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system on 1 July,” CENTCOM said.
While in Saudi Arabia, Kurilla also met with the chief of staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces. The pair discussed regional threats and efforts to maintain freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Last month, the State Department approved a $3.5 billion for the sale of advanced missiles and weapons to Saudi Arabia. The agreement involves the sale of 1,000 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and 50 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections to the Kingdom.
Washington also approved the sale of precision-guided weapon systems to Saudi Arabia in March.
Kurilla visits other capitals in the region
The outgoing CENTCOM chief also stopped in Qatar, Jordan, Israel and Greece to visit the US servicemembers "involved in the defense of US forces and interests across the region."
Kurilla visited Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar to visit the US troops who took down ballistic missiles targeting the base, launched by Iran in retaliation for the US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites.
In Jordan, Kurilla met with US forces and senior Jordanian military officials. He hailed the Jordanian Armed Forces, “which continues to serve as a steadfast and capable strategic partner for peace and stability in the region.”
The US general went to Israel on July 2 to visit US service members deployed there “in defense of US citizens and the state of Israel.”
His meetings with Israeli officials were to review the recent Iran-Israel war, according to the Israeli army, which said it “expresses deep appreciation [to the US] for the strategic cooperation” during the 12-Day War.
Kurilla met with US Navy personnel in Crete, Greece, and thanked them for supporting CENTCOM through ballistic missile defense, maritime security operations, and other efforts.
“At every stop on this trip, I saw firsthand the professionalism, competence, and skill of our servicemembers and the immense value they bring to our partnerships,” Kurilla said. “They are also the cornerstone of our regional relationships that are critical to regional stability, deterrence, and readiness.”
