The United States said on Sunday it will send US troops to Israel and advanced US anti-missile systems. This deployment has been described by political analysts as “unusual.” It is also meant to improve Israel’s air defenses following missile attacks by Hezbollah and Iran.
President Joe Biden also said this deployment aims to defend Israel, which is currently analyzing the possibility of retaliation against Iran after more than 180 missiles on October 1st.
Israel expected to avoid triggering region-wide war
Major media outlets have reported that the United States has been privately urging Israel to make its retaliation very calculated. Specifically, the US has urged Israel to avoid starting a wider war in the Middle East.
The United States has also urged Israel to avoid an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, with President Biden voicing concerns over a strike on Iran’s energy infrastructure.
A Pentagon spokesman also commented on this deployment. US Army Major General Patrick Ryder said it is a part of “the broader adjustments the US military has made in recent months” to defend both Israel and United States personnel from attacks by Iran and its proxies.
This deployment is uncommon. The US usually carries out such deployments as part of drills, given Israel’s own military capabilities. However, it has aided Israel with warships and fighter planes following Iran’s attack.
The United States is deploying one of its main anti-missile systems in Israel
United States military arsenal can only be described as formidable, and one of its main tools is the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System, THAAD for short.
Analysts have determined this adds to Israel’s defense capabilities, which already are formidable. This system is quite advanced. A THAAD battery requires 100 troops to operate and has six truck-mounted launchers with eight interceptors and an extremely powerful radar.
This US deployment in Israel has already sparked a response from Iran. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said the US was putting its troops “at risk by deploying them to operate US missile systems in Israel.”
The Iranian minister also said on X: “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.”
Despite these warnings, experts say that this US deployment might work as a deterrent for Iran, as it will now have to calculate whether to strike down US troops and will thus have additional factors to consider.
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