Washington, United States

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The United States announced on Sunday (Oct) 13 that it will deploy an advanced anti-missile system to Israel, along with US troops to operate it, to strengthen the country’s air defences following Iranian attacks earlier this month.

President Joe Biden asked Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to authorise "the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and associated crew of US military personnel" to Israel.

"The THAAD Battery will augment Israel's integrated air defence system. This action underscores the United States' ironclad commitment to the defence of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran," said Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder in a statement on Sunday.

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“It is part of the broader adjustments the US military has made in recent months, to support the defence of Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-aligned militias,” Ryder added.

'Only US system designed to intercept targets outside and inside the atmosphere'

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The THAAD system, produced by Lockheed Martin, "is the only US system designed to intercept targets outside and inside the atmosphere." This is not the first time the US has deployed THAAD to Israel, having previously done so in 2019 during joint exercises and following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, according to the statement.

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On October 1, Iran launched approximately 180 missiles at Israel. This attack came after Israel’s assassination of the leader of Iran-backed group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, on September 27.

This attack was larger than Iran’s April response when it launched 110 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles at Israel after an Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria.

Iran warns US against sending troops to Israel

Earlier on Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that by sending US troops to Israel to operate missile systems, the US was endangering its military personnel.

"While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests," Araghchi posted on X.

(With inputs from agencies)