US Confirms Missile Defense System and 100 Troops Will Be Sent to Israel

The United States has confirmed the deployment of an advanced missile defense system and 100 troops to Israel, as the region braces for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran. The Pentagon announced on Sunday that a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery will be stationed in Israel, operated by American soldiers, to bolster the country's defenses in light of recent Iranian missile attacks and escalating tensions.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that the deployment of the THAAD system was authorized by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the direction of President Joe Biden. The decision comes as part of a broader effort to ensure Israel’s security following missile attacks by Iran in April and October.

“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 said in a statement.

The THAAD system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) and is considered a complementary defense to the existing Patriot system. Each THAAD battery includes six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, and radar equipment, requiring nearly 100 soldiers to operate.

While it remains unclear where the THAAD battery is being deployed from, the US has maintained a significant presence of air defense systems across the Middle East. A THAAD system was previously deployed to Israel in 2019 for training purposes, and another was sent to the region in late 2023, following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

As reports of the THAAD deployment emerged, Iran issued a warning to the US, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that the deployment of US troops to Israel puts their lives at risk. “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,” Araghchi said.

Iran's threats come in response to its own missile attacks on Israel in early October, which it claimed were retaliation for Israeli strikes in Lebanon that killed top Hezbollah leadership. Tehran has been bracing for Israeli retaliation, with speculation that Israel may target key military and energy infrastructure within Iran.

The US continues to coordinate closely with Israel, seeking to temper the scope of potential Israeli strikes on Iran, while reinforcing defensive measures. The deployment of THAAD adds to the existing array of American missile defense systems in the region, including Patriot systems already stationed across the Middle East and Europe.

As tensions remain high, the United States is committed to defending its ally, Israel, from further aggression and maintaining regional stability.

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