The United States has rapidly deployed its advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system to Israel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed on Monday. This deployment comes as Israel considers its response to Iran's recent missile attack.
"The THAAD system is in place," Austin told reporters before arriving in Ukraine, as reported by Reuters. While declining to comment on its operational status, he added, "We have the ability to put it into operation very quickly and we're on pace with our expectations." The THAAD system, a crucial component of the US military's layered air defense capabilities, now bolsters Israel's already formidable anti-missile defenses. Approximately 100 US soldiers have been deployed alongside the system, according to President Joe Biden.
Biden stated that the THAAD deployment is intended to support Israel's defense as it contemplates retaliation against Iran. Tehran fired over 180 missiles at Israel on October 1, escalating tensions in the region.
US officials have been urging Israel to carefully calibrate its response to avoid triggering a broader conflict in the Middle East. President Biden has publicly expressed opposition to an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear sites and voiced concerns about potential strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure.
When questioned by reporters last week, Biden claimed to have a good understanding of when and how Israel might attack Iran. However, he also suggested there might be an opportunity to end the cycle of retaliatory strikes between the two adversaries.
Secretary Austin remained cautious in his assessment of the situation. "It's hard to say exactly what that (Israel's) strike will look like," he told reporters. "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."
Austin emphasized the US commitment to de-escalation efforts, stating, "We're going to do - continue to do - everything we can ... to dial down the tensions and hopefully get both parties to begin to de-escalate. So, we'll see what happens."
The deployment of the THAAD system and additional US personnel underscores the heightened concerns about regional stability and the potential for further escalation between Israel and Iran.
