By Jasper Ward
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The US mentioned on Sunday it’s going to ship to Israel a complicated anti-missile system – and U.S. troops to function it – in a bid to bolster the nation’s air defenses following missile assaults by Iran.
U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned he was sending the system “to defend Israel.”
Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder mentioned the deployment of a Terminal Excessive-Altitude Space Protection (THAAD) battery would increase Israel’s built-in air protection system.
“It is part of the broader adjustments the U.S. military has made in recent months, to support the defense of Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-aligned militias,” Ryder mentioned in a press release.
Iran’s International Minister Abbas Araqchi warned earlier on Sunday that the US was placing the lives of its troops “at risk by deploying them to operate U.S. missile systems in Israel.”
“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,” Araqchi posted on X.
Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel in April. Then on Oct. 1, Iran fired greater than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel amid an escalation in preventing between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Many have been intercepted in flight however some penetrated missile defenses.
