U.S. Rushes THAAD to Israel After Iranian Missiles Punched Hole in Iron Dome Air Defense

The U.S. is deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to Israel, reinforcing its "ironclad" support after some Iranian missiles breached the Iron Dome.

A day earlier, Hezbollah drones struck a military base near Haifa, killing four Israeli personnel.

The Pentagon confirmed that U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin authorized the deployment of the advanced air defense battery along with U.S. military personnel. This move aims to reinforce Israel's existing missile defense systems, which include Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow.

“The THAAD Battery will augment Israel’s integrated air defense system. This action underscores the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran,” the Pentagon added in a statement.

The decision follows an escalation in regional tensions after Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1 in retaliation for the assassinations of several key Hamas and Hezbollah figures. While many of the missiles were intercepted, several penetrated Israel’s defenses, prompting the urgent deployment of THAAD, known for its ability to intercept short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles at high altitudes.

The THAAD system, produced by Lockheed Martin, requires a crew of approximately 100 personnel and includes six truck-mounted launchers with a total of 48 interceptors. This is the second time the U.S. has deployed the THAAD system to Israel, the first being during joint drills in 2019. While the THAAD system was previously deployed to Israel for exercises in 2019, this marks its first operational deployment.

According to Israeli media, the deployment of a THAAD battery and U.S. troops to Israel suggests that Israel's stockpiles of ARROW-2, ARROW-3, and David's Sling Stunner interceptors have been significantly depleted due to recent ballistic missile strikes by the IRGC, including Shihab-3A/B, Fattah-1, and Sajil, on October 1.

The last instance of U.S. troops and the Patriot PAC-1 missile system being sent to Israel occurred during the 1991 Gulf War.

At least 15 to 17 THAAD batteries and 60 to 80 launchers with interceptors would be required to counter a potential IRGC retaliatory strike against IDF targets. There are also discussions regarding the possible deployment of five Arleigh Burke Flight 2A destroyers, equipped with the Aegis combat system and SM-3 Block IB/IIA interceptors.

Despite U.S. President Joe Biden’s public support for Israel, his administration has privately urged caution to prevent a broader conflict in the Middle East, particularly with Iran. Tehran, for its part, warned the U.S. against deploying more troops and military systems in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi stated that the U.S. is "putting its forces at risk" and reiterated Iran’s willingness to defend its interests without red lines. “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,” he wrote on social media.

The U.S. provides Israel with a minimum of $3.8 billion in annual military aid, and since the onset of the Israeli military's operations in the Gaza Strip in October of last year, the Biden administration has authorized an additional $14 billion in assistance to its ally.

U.S. officials did not provide a timeline for the system's operational deployment, but the move signifies heightened U.S. involvement in Israel’s defense amid fears of a wider regional conflict involving Iran, Hezbollah, and other actors.