At the direction of President Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has authorized the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and associated U.S. military personnel to Israel. This decision comes in response to Iran's attacks against Israel on April 13 and October 1. The THAAD system is intended to enhance Israel's air defense capabilities.
The deployment highlights the United States' commitment to defending Israel and protecting Americans in the region from potential ballistic missile threats by Iran. It is part of a series of strategic adjustments made by the U.S. military in recent months aimed at supporting Israeli defense and safeguarding American interests from Iranian threats.
This is not an unprecedented move; a THAAD battery was previously deployed to the Middle East last year following similar incidents on October 7th, with the objective of protecting American forces and assets in that area. Additionally, in 2019, a THAAD battery was sent to Israel for training purposes as part of an integrated air defense exercise.
