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.

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The Israeli Air Force has been conducting extensive training exercises simulating long-range strikes on distant targets, potentially in preparation for action against Iran. These drills come amid growing concerns that Tehran is exploiting Israel's current focus on the war against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip as well as against Hezbollah in Lebanon to accelerate its nuclear program.

According to reports obtained by Israel Hayom, the IAF has carried out several such exercises in recent weeks. These drills involve long-distance flights and operational activities targeting remote locations, incorporating refueling aircraft, transport planes, and additional units to prepare for potential operations in Iran.

The heightened focus on Iran stems from intelligence assessments suggesting Tehran is making "alarming and unprecedented" progress toward a military nuclear capability. This development has raised concerns within the security establishment, prompting the creation of an Iran department within the Air Force's operational headquarters during the ongoing war.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a recent meeting with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "Now is the time to fulfill the commitment made by all recent US administrations: preventing a nuclear Iran – time is running out on this issue."

Israeli defense officials have long maintained that once Iran makes the decision, it could potentially enrich enough uranium for several nuclear facilities within a short timeframe, possibly as little as a month. However, for years, Israel had diverted resources from Iran-focused preparations to other defense priorities. It was only about two years ago that funding began to shift back toward readiness for operations in the "third circle" – a term often used to refer to Iran.

While Israel is enhancing its preparedness, there is an acknowledgment within the country that its ability to prevent an Iranian nuclear program is limited compared to that of the United States. As a result, the IAF is refining its plans while hoping that American intervention will ultimately deter Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has condemned Iran's lack of cooperation, to which Tehran responded by announcing an increase in the number of centrifuges at its Fordo and Natanz facilities, effectively planning to boost its enriched uranium stockpile.

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In a call with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called for political consensus in Israel over the judicial reform.

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Earlier this week, the Knesset ratified an initial bill aimed at curbing the power of the Supreme Court following months of internal unrest over the proposal and appeals from the US and other countries to hold off and negotiate with the Opposition.

Video: Anti-reform demonstrations outside the Supreme Court

The demonstrations also affected the IDF, with protest leaders citing growing numbers of military reservists who say they would no longer report for duty if the government pressed ahead with its plans.

Former Israeli top brass have warned that Israel's war-readiness, with Arab and Iranian enemies spread across the Middle East, could be at risk.

"Austin underscored the United States' belief that broad consensus through political dialogue, especially in the coming weeks and months, are critical elements of a resilient democracy," a Pentagon readout of the call said.

The readout did not directly address protests by IDF reservists, and Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh declined to say during a news conference whether Austin raised any concerns he might have about impacts on Israeli military readiness in the call.

The White House on Monday called it "unfortunate" that the Knesset ratified part of the contested legislation.

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Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Pentagon in Washington, Wednesday.

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Among the topics reportedly on the agenda were the situation in the Gaza Strip, Iran's nuclear program, and the replenishment of Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system following last month's 11-day conflict with Hamas.

US President Joe Biden's administration has pledged to ask Congress to approve funds to restock depleted Iron Dome batteries.

"Cooperation between the [US and Israeli] armies is a multiplier of power and mutual interest that has been growing in recent years. We will continue to work together against common threats in the Middle East," Kochavi said.

According to an IDF statement, during the Pentagon meetings, Kochavi explained Israel's position that a return to the Iran nuclear deal is "dangerous." The IDF chief stressed "that every effort should be made to prevent Iran from acquiring military nuclear capabilities," the statement said.

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While in the US, Kochavi also participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia.

Kochavi arrived in Washington on Sunday as part of the first official Israeli delegation to the US since Prime Minister Naftali Bennett took office.

Kochavi's trip had been scheduled for an earlier date but was postponed due to the outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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Among the officials Gantz met with were National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Gantz was also set to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon.

In his meetings with the US officials, Gantz emphasized the need to consolidate a military option vis-à-vis Iran and increase oversight of Iran's nuclear armament.

In addition, Gantz spoke of the need for a new policy for the Gaza Strip.

"What was is not what will be," he said.

He told the Americans there was an immediate need to bolster the Palestinian Authority's standing in Gaza and alliances with moderates.

In light of efforts to reach a long-term ceasefire following the IDF's Operation Guardian of the Walls, Gantz discussed with Sullivan and Blinken the issue of the return of Israeli captives held by Hamas as a condition for Gaza's rehabilitation.

Following his meeting with Sullivan, Gantz tweeted: "We talked about the need to promote regional stability by halting Iranian aggressiveness, while strengthening the alliance of moderates and protecting Israel's QME [qualitative military edge].

In a joint statement ahead of his meeting with Blinken, Gantz said, "It's a real pleasure to be here and reconvey Israel's appreciation for the administration, for the president, for yourself, for the ongoing support, which is very important for us in our challenging area.  I'm looking forward to discuss, as we have discussed before, the challenges that we have with Iran, with the Palestinians. As far as Gaza concerned, we do look for stability and prosperity for everybody. And as defense minister, I think the combination between moving forward with reconstruction and making sure that everything stays secure – it's very important for me."

Blinken said he was "very happy today to have the opportunity to pursue that conversation, to talk about the United States's enduring commitment to Israel security, to talk about some of the needs that Israel has in that regard; also to talk about the work that needs to be done to move forward on humanitarian assistance to and reconstruction for Gaza and for the Palestinians living there and to look across the board at the many issues that we have on our agenda."

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Defense Minister Benny Gantz pledged on Sunday to cooperate with the United States on Iran, voicing hope that Israeli security would be safeguarded under any renewed Iranian nuclear deal that Washington reaches.

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"Israel views the United States as a full partner across all operational theaters, not the least Iran," Gantz said after hosting visiting US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

"And we will work closely with our American allies to ensure that any new agreement with Iran will secure the vital interests of the world and the United States, prevent a dangerous arms race in our region and protect the State of Israel."

Austin arrived in Israel on Sunday on the first visit by a senior representative of the Biden administration, whose stance on Iran has worried Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Austin, who was greeted by an honor guard at Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, held a joint press conference with Gantz and was due to meet Netanyahu during the two-day visit, which officials said would include discussions of US arms supplies to Israel.

"We are committed to Israel's security," Austin said at the joint press conference, adding that Washington views the alliance with the Jewish state as central to regional security as well as "enduring and ironclad."

Washington has sought to reassure Israel on regional security issues while restarting talks – so far indirect and inconclusive – about a US return to the 2015 nuclear deal.

"I emphasized to Secretary Austin," Gantz said, "that Israel views the United States as a full partner across all operational theaters, not the least Iran. The Tehran of today poses a strategic threat to international security, to the entire Middle East and to the State of Israel. And we will work closely with our American allies, to ensure that any new agreement with Iran will secure the vital interests of the world and the United States, prevent a dangerous arms race in our region and protect the State of Israel."

The defense minister continued: "After a year which shook the world to its core, I find great comfort in the assurance of our people's unbreakable bond, and in the knowledge that both in the US and in Israel, forces of good act to promote unity, solidarity and diversity."

On Sunday, Iran's Press TV said an electricity problem had caused an incident at the Natanz underground uranium enrichment site, without casualties or pollution. Israel had no immediate comment on the Natanz incident.

Gantz and Austin will have lunch together and resume meetings with their teams later Sunday. On Monday, the two will visit Nevatim Israeli Airbase near Beersheba, followed by visits to Yad Vashem and the National Hall for Israel's Fallen on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.

After leaving Israel, Austin is expected to visit Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom.

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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Israel, Germany, NATO headquarters in Belgium and Britain starting on Saturday, the Pentagon said in a statement released late Thursday.

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"Secretary Austin will meet with his counterparts and other senior officials to discuss the importance of international defense relationships, and reinforce the United States' commitment to deterrence and defense, burden sharing, and enduring trans-Atlantic security," the statement read.

According to the statement, Austin is expected to arrive in Israel on Sunday and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz to "continue close consultations on shared priorities and reaffirm the enduring US commitment to the US-Israel strategic partnership and Israel's qualitative military edge."

In addition to meeting with Netanyahu and Gantz, Austin will hold meetings in Germany with German Minister of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Chancellery Foreign and Security Policy Adviser Dr. Jan Hecker, to "reinforce the value the United States places on the bilateral defense relationship with one of its closest NATO allies."

While in Germany, Austin is slated to visit the US European Command and US African command headquarters.

Austin's itinerary includes a visit to Belgium, where he is scheduled to meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss how NATO is tackling destabilizing behavior by Russia, a rising China, terrorism, and global challenges such as COVID-19 and climate change.

Finally, Austin will meet in the UK with British Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace.

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The United States will do what it views as necessary to defend its interests after a rocket attack against Iraq's Ain al-Sada airbase, which hosts American, coalition and Iraqi forces, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday.

The attack, which was the second in several weeks, took place earlier in March. Pro-Iranian militias were believed to be responsible for the incident. The US attacked several sites in Syria affiliated with Shiite militias shortly after the first incident in February, in which a contractor was killed.

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Speaking on ABC's "This Week" program, Austin said the US was urging Iraq to quickly investigate the incident and determine who was responsible.

"We'll strike, if that's what we think we need to do, at a time and place of our own choosing. We demand the right to protect our troops," he said, adding that Iran would have to draw its own conclusions if and when the United States acts.

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Retired Army General Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden's pick to lead the Pentagon, said on Tuesday that Iran posed a threat to American allies in the region and forces stationed there.

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"Iran continues to be a destabilizing element in the region. ... It does present a threat to our partners in the region and those forces that we have stationed in the region," Austin said during his confirmation hearing.

"If Iran were ever to get a nuclear capability, most every problem we deal with in the region would be tougher to deal with because of that," he added.

Meanwhile, Biden's choice to be secretary of state, Antony Blinken, threw his support behind a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but said he doubted near-term prospects for such a deal.

"The only way to ensure Israel's future as a Jewish, democratic state and to give the Palestinians a state to which they are entitled is through the so-called two-state solution," Blinken said at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

But, he added: "I think realistically it's hard to see near-term prospects for moving forward on that."

As for Iran, Blinken noted that the upcoming administration would be "committed to the proposition that Iran will not acquire a nuclear weapon."

"Iran, with a nuclear weapon or on a threshold of having one would be Iran that is even more dangerous than it already is when it comes to all of the other malicious activities that it has engaged in, whether it is support for terrorism; whether it is fueling and feeding its proxies; whether it is destabilizing the region," he said.

He said he believed that the nuclear deal Trump withdrew from in 2018 should be reinvigorated with an eye toward producing "a longer and stronger agreement."

"Having said that," he said, suggesting that Iran would not be an immediate priority, "we're a long way from that."

However, according to Blinken, "The president-elect believes that if Iran comes back into compliance, we would, too. But we would use that as a platform with our allies and partners who would once again, be on the same side with us, to seek a longer and stronger agreement."

Blinken vowed to keep partisan politics out of intelligence agencies, restore an emphasis on cooperating with international allies, and push for a stronger American leadership role.

He also pledged to repair the alleged damage done to the State Department and America's image abroad while continuing a tougher approach to China. He said he planned to restore career officials to prominent positions in the department and strive to promote inclusivity in the ranks for the diplomatic corps.

"American leadership still matters," he said at his confirmation hearing.

Neither Blinken nor Biden's other nominees for national security Cabinet posts encountered substantial opposition Tuesday.

Biden's pick to lead the intelligence community, Avril Haines, promised to "speak truth to power" and keep politics out of intelligence agencies to ensure their work is trusted.

"When it comes to intelligence, there is simply no place for politics – ever," she told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Austin, who would be the first Black secretary of defense, said he understands why some have questioned the wisdom of putting a recently retired general in charge of the Pentagon.

"The safety and security of our democracy demands competent civilian control of our armed forces, the subordination of military power to the civil," he said.

The House majority leader, Rep. Steny Hoyer, indicated Tuesday that the full House would consider an Austin waiver bill on Thursday.

Like Blinken, Austin said he views China as the leading international issue facing Biden's national security team.

On China, Blinken said the Trump administration was right to take a tougher stance. But, he said it had approached the matter poorly by alienating US allies and not fully standing up for human rights around the world.

"As we look at China, there is no doubt that it poses the greatest threat of any nation-state to the United States," he said.

Blinken said Biden would enter office with a plan to extend the New START arms control treaty with Russia that expires in February. The Trump administration made a failed last-ditch effort to extend the treaty on terms Russia rejected.

Republicans are expected to broadly support the Austin nomination, as are Democrats. Haines and Blinken encountered no significant resistance at their confirmation hearings.

Haines, a former CIA deputy director, would be the first woman to serve as director of national intelligence, or DNI – a role created after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Also testifying Tuesday at his confirmation hearing was Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden's nominee for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He would be the first Latino and first immigrant to lead the agency.

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