US THAAD anti-missile system now in place in Israel in anticipation of any Iranian missile attack
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Monday that the THAAD anti-missile system is now in place in Israel, noting that Washington has sent this advanced US defense system to protect its ally from any new Iranian missile attack.
“This system is in place, and we won’t say whether it’s operational or not, but we’re able to get it up and running very quickly,” Austin said, according to statements published by the Pentagon.
The statements come as Israel prepares to respond to a massive missile attack launched by Iran earlier this month.
On that day, Iran said it had bombed Israel in response to the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli raid in the southern suburbs of Beirut, and also in revenge for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in a bombing that the Islamic Republic attributed to Israel.
Last week, the Pentagon announced that it had sent to Israel the military personnel responsible for operating the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, which is considered one of the most advanced systems in the world and consists of missile launchers carried on trucks.
Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder said that strengthening Israel’s air defenses with this advanced weapon underscores the United States’ commitment to defending Israel and defending Americans in Israel from any ballistic missile attack by Iran.
