The US Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery that has been deployed to Israel with about 100 US troops is now operational, the Israeli broadcaster Kan reported on Sunday.
The US deployed the missile defense system amid anticipation of an Israeli attack on Iran in retaliation for the October 1 Iranian missile barrage that was fired at Israel, which came in response to a series of Israeli escalations in the region.
The US and Israel are anticipating Iran to hit back in response to any Israeli attack, making the US troops deployed with the THAAD system a potential target of Iranian ballistic missiles.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Friday that Israel has requested the US to send another THAAD system, signaling Israel is expecting major escalations. There’s been no word yet on whether the US is considering the request.
Throughout the past year, the US has deployed additional military assets to the Middle East to show support for Israel, but sending to the THAAD system was the first significant US deployment on Israeli territory, although an unknown number of US special operations forces have been on the ground in Israel helping with intelligence.
The US may support Israel’s attack on Iran either by launching airstrikes of its own or by providing intelligence. Either way, the US will be directly involved in a full-blown Iran-Israel war since it’s vowing to defend Israel from any Iranian reprisal.
