The U.S. government has announced that it will deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in Israel to help protect against missile threats from Iran. This decision was made by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the request of President Joe Biden, especially after Iran launched missile attacks on Israel earlier this year.
In April and October 2024, Iran fired various missiles at Israel, resulting in some injuries and the death of a Palestinian man. These incidents raised security concerns in the region, due to which U.S has to increase its military support for Israel.
THAAD is a modern missile defense system made to catch and destroy short- to medium-range missiles. It works by using impact force rather than explosives to eliminate threats. Each THAAD battery has six launchers, each containing eight interceptors, and it requires about 95 soldiers to operate.
This system is special because it can target missiles at greater distances than other systems like the Patriot missile defense system. THAAD can track missiles from far away, giving Israel a better chance to defend against attacks.
Deploying THAAD in Israel is not a new move; the U.S. previously sent this system for training in 2019 and again in October 2023 after Hamas attacks. This latest step shows the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and aims to strengthen defenses against ongoing threats from Iran.
As tensions rise in the region, both Iran and Israel are preparing for possible conflict. U.S. military personnel will operate the THAAD system to provide strong defense for Israel. The situation is changing, and it will be important to see what happens as both countries work on their security problems.
