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Washington DC
The US will send the THAAD anti-missile system and 100 troops to Israel, which is widely thought to be preparing a response to Iran for its missile attacks on the Jewish country earlier this month, even as it fights Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
The THAAD is a storied missile defence system known for its ability to intercept ballistic missiles. It will boost the already dominant Iron Dome missile defence system of Israel.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin authorised the deployment of the THAAD battery at the direction of President Joe Biden, said Pentagon spokesperson Maj Gen Pat Ryder in a statement on Sunday (Oct 13). Biden said in Florida on Sunday that he agreed to the deployment “to defend Israel.”
WATCH: US To Send 'THAAD' Missile Battery To Israel
What is THAAD? What are its capabilities?
THAAD stands for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense. THAAD is one of the most advanced missile defence systems of the US.
It is an integrated air and missile defence system built for the US Army by Lockheed Martin, which describes THAAD as a 'highly effective, combat-proven defence against short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.'
THAAD is the only US defence system that can intercept incoming missiles from outside and inside the atmosphere.
The US currently has seven THAAD batteries. An eighth system is being built and will be field-ready in 2025.
Each THAAD battery has six launchers mounted on trucks, 48 missile interceptors, as well as radio and radar systems. It takes 95 soldiers to operate one THAAD battery.
Also read: Ukraine crisis: US THAAD vs Russian S-400 missile defence system
THAAD can intercept targets up to 200 kilometres away. It mainly intercepts and destroys short-range, medium-range and limited intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
THAAD is operated by the US Army, and the US Missile Defense Agency is responsible for the system.
Highly mobile and deployable worldwide, THAAD can defend population centres and infrastructure in the area of operation. It is interoperable with
other ballistic missile defence systems like the Patriot system of the US.
How will the war in Middle East change after THAAD deployment?
Israel, fighting a multifront war in the Middle East, will get a boost from THAAD as both Hamas and Hezbollah have been firing rockets and missiles across the border.
Israel had done a ground invasion of Lebanon in response to Hezbollah's rocket attacks. It is thought to be preparing a counterstrike against Iran which had dropped up to 180 missiles on October 1, soon after Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Iran-backed group Hezbollah, was killed by Israel in Lebanon.
The US has been pressing Israel to spare the nuclear and energy facilities of Iran, given the potential ramifications for the global economy.
Iran has already warned the US against sending its military to the region.
The presence of THAAD and the US troops will add more fire to the conflict and risk an all-out-war despite diplomatic efforts to contain the tensions.
Also read: How Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system intercepts rockets fired by Hamas
Last year after the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel, the US deployed a THAAD battery to the Middle East, in addition to the Patriot defence system to protect American military assets in the region.
In 2019, the US had sent a THAAD battery to Israel for training purposes, Ryder said.
Israel earlier had the American Patriot defence system for a decade, which has been retired recently.
(With inputs from agencies)