Pentagon Says THAAD Anti-missile System Begins To Arrive In Israel And Operates Soon

Illustration of THAAD delivery. (Wikimedia Commons/MSgt Jeremy Larlee)

JAKARTA - The United States Department of Defense said components for advanced anti-missile systems began arriving in Israel on Monday and will be fully operational in the near future, according to a statement on Tuesday.

"In the coming days, additional US military personnel and THAAD battery components will continue to arrive at Israel," Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said.

"The battery will be able to fully operate in the near future, but for operational safety reasons, we will not discuss the schedule," he said.

Earlier, the US announced it would send advanced anti-missile systems and a number of troops to Israel preparing to retaliate against Iran.

The decision was announced just hours before Hezbollah's drone strike on an Israeli base killed four soldiers and injured 61 others without triggering a warning.

The High Altitude Area Defense Terminal (THAAD) typically requires about 100 troops to operate, and has six launchers mounted on trucks, with eight interceptors at each launcher, as well as a strong radar. The system is capable of intercepting ballistic missiles at a distance of 100 to 125 miles.

Retired Brigadier General Zvika Haimovich, Israel's former head of Air Defense, said the country expects an even larger series of missiles from Iran in the "next stage" after Tehran fired more than 180 missiles at Israel on October 1.

He said Israel needed THAAD as well as its Iron Dome defense system, to confront any attack, and the latest barrier in Israel's defense would come as the country considers its response to Iran's attacks.

"You always need more power," Haimovich told NBC News.

"We are trying to predict the future that Iran will use this large salvo attack method again, even greater than these 200 missiles," he added.

In Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, responded to news about THAAD warning that the US was putting its troops' lives "at risk" by deploying them to operate missile systems in Israel.

"Although we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to withstand the war all-out on our territory, I clearly say that we have no limits in defending the people and our interests," wrote Foreign Minister Araqchi in X.