US deploys THAAD air defense battery in Israel - Pentagon
US deploys THAAD air defense battery in Israel (illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The US military has deployed a THAAD air defense battery in Israel. This step should strengthen Israel's integrated air defense system, reports Pentagon.
Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder said that at the direction of US President Joe Biden, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin authorized the deployment of a THAAD battery and associated US military personnel to Israel to help strengthen Israel's air defense.
“The THAAD Battery will augment Israel's integrated air defense system. 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,” the Pentagon said.
At the same time, according to Ryder, this is only part of the broader changes that the US Army has made in recent months to support Israel's defense and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-affiliated militias.
This is not the first time the United States has deployed a THAAD battery in the region.
The president ordered the military to deploy the THAAD battery in the Middle East last year after the October 7 attacks to protect US troops and interests in the region.
Before that, the United States deployed the THAAD battery to Israel in 2019 for training and integrated air defense exercises.
Yesterday, it became known that the United States will provide Israel with missile defense systems.
