WASHINGTON: The United States will send a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system and US military to Israel to help the ally protect itself from potential Iranian missile attacks, the Pentagon said on Sunday.
The deployment comes at the direction of US President Joe Biden, as part of a broader effort to bolster Israel’s air defenses amid rising tensions in the region.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved the deployment, which includes a THAAD battery and its associated crew, following what were described as “unprecedented” Iranian missile strikes on Israel, occurring on both April 13 and October 1 this year.
The move underscores the United States’ unwavering commitment to defending Israel, according to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
“The THAAD battery will augment Israel’s integrated air defence system,” Ryder said in a statement. He said that this action reaffirms the US government’s “ironclad commitment to Israel’s defence” and aims to protect both Israeli and American interests from future ballistic missile threats by Iran.
The deployment also follows recent adjustments made by the US military to better defend Israel against attacks from Iran and resistance groups in the region. US forces in the Middle East have already been bolstered by additional Patriot missile batteries since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.
The THAAD system, developed by Lockheed Martin, is a sophisticated air defence system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles both inside and outside Earth’s atmosphere. It is specifically designed to protect against short, medium, and intermediate-range missile threats and can engage targets at ranges of 150 to 200 kilometers.
This marks the second time the US has deployed a THAAD battery to Israel, with the first instance occurring in 2019 during joint training and defence exercises.
According to an April report by the Congressional Research Service, the Army has seven THAAD batteries. Generally, each consists of six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, radio and radar equipment and requires 95 soldiers to operate.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi vowed that there would be “no red lines” for the country in defending its people and interests, ahead of Israel’s expected retaliation for Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel.
“While we have made great 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,” the Iranian Foreign Minister wrote in a post on X.
Araghchi’s statement came ahead of Israel’s expected retaliation for Iran’s firing of around 200 missiles on October 1, which Tehran claimed was in response to the killing of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders and a general of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
The missile barrage marks one of the most significant escalations in the conflict between Iran and Israel in recent years. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed that Israel’s response will be “deadly, precise, and surprising,” as Israeli forces prepare for possible retaliatory strikes.
The Iranian Foreign Minister made these remarks while in Baghdad, where he met with Iraqi officials to discuss the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, two hotspots in the broader regional turmoil.
READ ALSO: Hezbollah clash with Israeli Forces Near Ramiya, UN Peacekeeper Hurt
Ali al-Moussawi, a political advisor to Iraq’s prime minister, told AFP that Araghchi’s visit was part of diplomatic efforts “to silence weapons and violence… and to establish security and stability in the region.”
Following his meetings in Iraq, Araghchi is expected to travel to Oman, according to the Iranian ISNA news agency. Oman has often served as a neutral mediator in regional conflicts.
Earlier in the week, the Iranian foreign minister was in Qatar, where he held talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, discussing the wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Qatar has been playing a mediating role in the conflicts, calling for ceasefires and promoting truce talks.
In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi said that while Iran is not seeking war, the country is prepared for any outcome.
“We do not want war, but we are not afraid of it. We will be ready for any scenario,” he said.
Meanwhile, US officials have said that Israel has refined its targeting strategy in response to Iran’s recent missile attacks, now focusing primarily on military and energy infrastructure.
According to a report by NBC, there are no indications that Israel plans to target nuclear facilities or conduct assassinations in its forthcoming actions. The exact timing and nature of Israel’s response remain uncertain, as decisions have yet to be finalized.
