In this image courtesy of DVIDS, a US Air Force Airmen offloads a THAAD launcher from a C-17 GlobeMaster III at Nevatim Air Base, Israel, Mar 1, 2019. (Robert DURR / DVIDS / AFP)
Published October 13, 2024
No decision made yet on deployment of advanced air defense battery, which would require US troops to operate; Washington reported to think Israel is zeroing in on possible targets
The US is mulling sending Israel an advanced anti-ballistic missile defense system operated by American troops to protect the country in case of an Iranian reaction to an expected Israeli reprisal attack, an US official said Saturday.
Israel has vowed to respond after Iran lobbed some 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1, with the US seeking to coordinate with Jerusalem and temper its retaliation. A weekend report indicated that US officials think Israel has narrowed down its list of possible targets.
With Iran saying it will reply to any retaliatory action in kind, reports in Hebrew-language media over the weekend claimed that Washington was set to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense batteries to beef up Israel’s ability to fend off ballistic missiles, which Tehran’s proxies have also launched at Israel in recent months.
A US official speaking to The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity confirmed US President Joe Biden’s administration was considering transferring the systems to Israel, but said no decision had been made yet.
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SOURCE: www.timesofisrael.com
RELATED:American soldiers to operate THAAD missile defense system in Israel – report
A U.S. Army soldier with Task Force Talon, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command looks inside his tool bag during a routine maintenance inspection of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, October 26, 2017.
(photo credit: U.S. Army/Capt. Adan Cazarez/Handout via REUTERS)
Published October 13, 2024
The decision would be implemented in an attempt to prepare for an Iranian response to an Israel strike.
According to the report, such a decision would prompt the US to station American soldiers in Israel to operate the THAAD system.
The decision to operate the THAAD US air defense system on Israeli soil would come in preparation for an expected Iranian response to Israel’s anticipated retaliation strike on Iran, the N12 report noted.
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SOURCE: www.m.jpost.com
