Thaad: Why is the US giving Israel a powerful anti-missile system
Why the US is giving Israel a powerful Thaad anti-missile system
AFP via Getty Images Each Thaad system - like this one seen in an archive photo - costs about $1bn (?766m)
The Pentagon has confirmed it is sending a high-altitude anti-missile system operated by US troops to Israel. Officials say the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) battery will bolster Israeli air defences after Iran?s missile attack on the country earlier this month. President Joe Biden has said it is meant "to defend Israel", which is still expected to retaliate against an Iranian strike involving more than 180 ballistic missiles fired at Israel on 1 October. The move has become the focus of attention as it involves putting American boots on the ground in Israel. There are already a small number of US forces in the country - but this new deployment of about 100 troops is significant as it signals further US entanglement in the expanding regional war. It is also being scoured for clues as to what it means about the effectiveness of Israel?s missile defences as the crisis grows. Israel has yet to launch its retaliation for Iran?s attack, which will be "lethal, precise and above all, surprising" according to Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Tehran said it fired on Israel because it assassinated Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Iranian-backed Hezbollah, in Beirut.
It?s still unclear whether the Thaad deployment is part of US contingency planning to bridge gaps identified in Israel?s aerial defences, or whether it points to growing concerns in Washington of a more forceful Israeli strike on Iran. President Biden has opposed any attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, as well as on its oil or energy infrastructure, amid fears that it would trigger a spiralling conflict and affect the global economy. Whatever the background to the decision, it signals a further need by Israel for US defence assistance amid the expanding Middle East war.
Reuters Rockets seen above Tel Aviv after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles on 1 October
Ballistic missiles like the Fattah-1used by Iran earlier this month are fired upwards into the Earth?s atmosphere, where they change trajectory and descend towards their target. One of their military advantages is their immense speed compared with cruise missiles or drones. The Thaad system is highly effective against ballistic missiles, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the biggest US arms maker. Raytheon, another American weapons firm, builds its advanced radar. The system counts six truck-mounted launchers, with eight interceptors on each launcher. It costs about $1bn (?766m) a battery and requires a crew of about 100 to operate it. Thaad is much sought after including by Ukraine to counter Russian missile attacks. Saudi Arabia has orders in for it, and reportedly wanted more as part of an American weapons bonanza in return for officially recognising Israel: a so-called "normalisation" deal which was largely derailed after the 7 October attack by Hamas.
