By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The United States has deployed troops to Israel along with an advanced US anti-missile system, in a highly unusual deployment aiming to bolster the country’s air defence following missile attacks by Iran.
According to US President, Joe Biden, the move was meant “to defend Israel,” which is weighing an expected retaliation against Iran after Tehran fired more than 180 missiles at Israel on October 1.
Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder described the deployment as part of “the broader adjustments the US military has made in recent months” to support Israel and defend US personnel from attacks by Iran and Iranian-backed groups.
US troops have in recent months been assisting Israel’s defence from warships and fighter jets in the Middle East when it came under Iranian attack. But they were based outside of Israel.
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) being deployed to Israel is a critical part of the US military’s layered air defence systems and adds to Israel’s already formidable anti-missile defenses.
A THAAD battery usually requires about 100 troops to operate. It counts six truck mounted launchers, with eight interceptors on each launcher, and a powerful radar.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned earlier on Sunday that the United States was putting the lives of its troops “at risk by deploying them to operate US missile systems in Israel.”
“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,” Araqchi posted on X.
The Pentagon said a THAAD was deployed to southern Israel for drills in 2019, the last and only time it was known to be there.
