US deploys extra air defense systems against Iran - WSJ reveals locations
US deploys additional air defense systems (Photo: Getty Images)
The US is deploying additional air defense systems in the Middle East to protect American military bases and US allies in case of potential strikes from Iran, reports the Wall Street Journal.
According to WSJ sources, US forces are already prepared to carry out limited airstrikes on Iran if ordered by President Donald Trump.
At the same time, officials warn that a large-scale strike, planned under the president’s direction, would most likely provoke a retaliatory response from Tehran, highlighting the need for robust air defense systems in the region.
The report notes that the US already has air defense assets in the region, including destroyers and aircraft. However, the Pentagon is additionally deploying THAAD batteries and Patriot systems at military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
In addition, the US has sent three squadrons of F-15E fighter jets to Jordan, which could be used to target Iranian drones.
It is also highlighted that the deployment of THAAD systems is a serious signal of the US's preparation for a potential conflict, as the country has only seven operational THAAD batteries, which have been deployed to various regions around the world over the past year.
US-Iran crisis escalates
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump tasked his advisors with preparing options for rapid and decisive military actions against Iran that would avoid a prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
At the same time, according to The New York Times, Trump was presented with several expanded scenarios for potential strikes on Iran, including the possibility of a ground operation.
On February 1, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any attack by the US could trigger a regional war in the Middle East.
