U.S. sending THAAD missile system and troops to operate it to Israel
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Trucks and other parts of the THAAD missile defense system on the tarmac in South Korea. Photo: U.S. Forces Korea via Getty
The U.S. military will deploy a sophisticated missile defense system, with crew of U.S. military operators, to bolster Israel's defenses ahead of a potential new ballistic missile attack from Iran, the Pentagon said Sunday.
Why it matters: The new deployment underscores Israel's growing dependence not only on U.S. weapons, but also on U.S. military operational assistance. It also means U.S. soldiers could actively engage in fighting between Israel and Iran on Israeli soil.
Flashback: The U.S. previously sent soldiers along with a Patriot missile system to Israel during the Gulf War in 1991.
- But the context was very different: Israel didn't have its own missile defense system and was not fighting a war.
- A U.S. military THAAD system was deployed to Israel in 2019 for an exercise but this is the first operational deployment, U.S. and Israeli officials say.
Between the lines: Israel requested the missile defense system, Israeli officials say, in a departure from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's long stated policy that "Israel defends itself by itself."
- "We activated a long-standing operational plan. Not a lot of people thought it will ever happen," an Israeli official told Axios.
- It could also be a sign that Israel's stocks of Arrow and David Sling interceptors were significantly depleted by Iran's October 1 ballistic missile attack.
What they're saying: "At the direction of the President, Secretary Austin authorized the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and associated crew of U.S. military personnel to Israel to help bolster Israel's air defenses," Pentagon press secretary Gen. Pat Ryder said.
- Ryder stressed the deployment is aimed at defending Israel, and Americans in Israel, from further ballistic missile attacks by Iran.
State of play: Israeli officials said the Security Cabinet still hasn't taken a final decision on the timing and the scope of the Israeli response to the Iranian missile attack.
- President Biden and Netanyahu moved closer to an understanding on the scope of Israel's planned retaliation against Iran during their call last Wednesday, Axios reported.
- Both U.S. and Israeli officials believe the tit-for-tat will continue, and that the U.S. and Israel will have to work together to combat a potential Iranian response.
