US urgently deploys advanced missile defense system to Israel
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin (Getty Images)
American military forces have urgently deployed their advanced missile defense system to Israel. The THAAD system is now "in place," according to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
THAAD is a crucial component of the US military's layered air defense system and complements Israel's already robust missile defense capabilities.
"The THAAD system is in place," Austin said while speaking to reporters before he arrived in Ukraine.
He declined to confirm whether the system has been activated but added, "We have the ability to put it into operation very quickly and we’re on pace with our expectations."
The missile defense battery was sent by US forces to protect Israel in the event of a response from Iran following Tehran's launch of 200 ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this month.
On Monday, Austin told reporters that it's hard to say what an Israeli strike would look like.
"At the end of the day, that’s an Israeli decision, and whether or not the Israelis believe it’s proportional and how the Iranians perceive it, I mean those may be two different things. We’re going to do — continue to do — everything we can… to dial down the tensions and hopefully get both parties to begin to deescalate. So, we’ll see what happens," he said.
Austin's comments came a day after two reports indicated that the THAAD system was already operational in Israel.
About 100 American troops are expected to be involved in operating the system. It is considered an addition to the Patriot system but can cover a larger area and engage targets at distances of 150-200 kilometers.
Previously, Israel had requested a second THAAD battery from the US ahead of a planned strike on Iran.
