U.S. Deploys THAAD Battery to Israel in Response to Iranian Attacks

In a statement issued on October 13, 2024, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder announced the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and accompanying U.S. military personnel to Israel. The deployment comes at the direction of President Biden and was authorized by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. This move is in response to Iran’s unprecedented missile attacks on Israel earlier this year, first on April 13 and again on October 1, and is intended to strengthen Israel’s air defense capabilities.

The THAAD battery, known for its ability to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at high altitudes, will augment Israel’s already robust integrated air defense system. The Pentagon’s decision emphasizes the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and to the protection of U.S. personnel stationed in the region.

“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 stated. The deployment is part of broader adjustments the U.S. military has made in recent months to support Israel’s defense efforts and safeguard Americans from further aggression by Iran and its aligned militias.

This is not the first time a THAAD battery has been deployed to the region. Following the October 7, 2023, attacks on U.S. interests in the Middle East, the United States had deployed a THAAD battery to protect American forces and installations in the region. Additionally, a THAAD battery was sent to Israel in 2019 for joint training and an integrated air defense exercise.

The deployment reflects heightened concerns over Iran’s growing missile capabilities and its increasing influence in the region through proxy forces like Hezbollah. It also reinforces the enduring strategic partnership between the U.S. and Israel as both nations face ongoing threats from Iranian-aligned forces.

As tensions in the region remain high, the deployment of the THAAD battery is seen as a crucial step in fortifying Israel’s defenses and ensuring both Israeli and U.S. forces are better equipped to counter future missile threats.–News Desk