The United States announced on October 13 that it will send troops to Israel, along with an advanced anti-missile system, in an effort to strengthen the country's air defenses following missile attacks from Iran.
President Joe Biden stated that the deployment aims “to defend Israel,” which is considering a response to Iran after Tehran launched over 180 missiles at the country on October 1.
According to officials, the U.S. has been urging Israel to carefully manage its response to avoid escalating tensions into a broader conflict in the Middle East. Biden has expressed concerns about Israel launching attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites and its energy infrastructure.
Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder described the deployment as part of “the broader adjustments the U.S. military has made in recent months” to support Israel and protect U.S. personnel from Iranian aggression and attacks from Iranian-backed groups.
A U.S. military presence in Israel is uncommon outside of joint training exercises, given Israel's robust military capabilities. Recently, U.S. troops have assisted in defending Israel from Iranian attacks via warships and fighter jets stationed in the Middle East but were based outside of Israel.
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) is a key component of the U.S. military's air defense strategy, enhancing Israel’s existing anti-missile systems. A THAAD battery typically requires about 100 troops to operate, consisting of six truck-mounted launchers, each equipped with eight interceptors, along with a powerful radar system.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi issued a warning earlier on Sunday, claiming that the U.S. is endangering its troops “by deploying them to operate U.S. missile systems in Israel.” He asserted that Iran will not hesitate to defend its interests, stating, “We have no red lines in defending our people.”
Experts suggest that while Iran has launched attacks against Israel, it has been careful to avoid direct conflict with the U.S., making the presence of American forces in Israel a significant factor in their strategic considerations.
Iran has a history of launching missiles and drones at Israel, with a notable attack in April. The missile strikes on October 1 marked an escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Many missiles were intercepted, but some managed to breach Israel’s defenses.
U.S. officials have not specified when the anti-missile system will be deployed to Israel. The Pentagon previously deployed a THAAD system to southern Israel for drills in 2019, marking the last known presence of such systems in the country.
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