The US announced it would deploy troops and an advanced anti-missile system to Israel

In an effort to bolster Israel’s air defenses in the wake of Iranian missile assaults, the US said on Sunday that it would send soldiers and a cutting-edge anti-missile system to the nation. Declaring that the deployment is “to defend Israel,” President Joe Biden hinted that the US may take retaliatory action against Tehran for firing over 180 missiles at Israeli targets on October 1.

In secret, American officials have been pleading with Israel to temper its reaction so as not to provoke an even larger crisis in the Middle East. In an effort to encourage moderation, Biden has expressed worries about possible attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure.

Major General Patrick Ryder, a spokesman for the Pentagon, said that the deployment was a component of “the broader adjustments the U.S. military has made in recent months” to help Israel and safeguard American soldiers against Iranian threats. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, which normally needs roughly 100 soldiers to operate, is part of this deployment. The system uses cutting-edge radar technology to monitor approaching threats and six truck-mounted launchers, each with eight interceptors.

Iran Alerts US Troops to THAAD Deployment, Putting Them “At Risk”

The United States is “putting the lives of its troops at risk” by deploying soldiers to operate missile systems in Israel, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said. “We have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region,” he wrote on X. “But we have no red lines when it comes to defending our people and interests,” he said.

Despite these warnings, many believe Iran has refrained from inciting a direct conflict with the United States. While criticizing the United States for “unprecedented levels of military aid” to Israel, Araqchi disclosed that the military budget for the United States is expected to hit a record high of $17.9 billion in 2024. “The U.S. has been supplying Israel with record levels of arms,” he said, highlighting Iran’s annoyance at the United States’ backing of its regional rival.

Israel is preparing for a potential missile attack response against Iran at the same time as this military support. It’s often assumed that Israel would react, with Netanyahu vowing reprisal and cautioning that Iran has committed a “serious mistake” in its conduct.

THAAD’s deployment is a critical step toward strengthening Israel’s missile defense capabilities as the situation develops, particularly in light of the most recent missile attacks, which the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) of Iran claimed were retaliation for Israel’s military activities in the area.