US Defense Minister Says THAAD Missile Defense System Is Already In Israel

Illustration of THAAD delivery. (Wikimedia Commons/European Security Defense)

JAKARTA - The United States military has sent its advanced anti-missile system to Israel and is "already in place", Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday.

THAAD, or the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, is an important part of the US military's layered air defense system and complements Israel's anti-missile defenses.

"The THAAD system already exists," said Defense Minister Austin, as reported by The Times of Israel, October 21.

However, Defense Secretary Austin declined to say whether the system was operational or not.

"We have the ability to operate it very quickly and we are in line with our expectations," he added.

The missile defense battery was sent by the US military to protect Israel, in the event of an Iranian reaction to an Israeli retaliatory strike estimated following Tehran, which fired 200 ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this month.

Defense Secretary Austin said it was "it was difficult to say exactly what the attack (Israel) would be like later."

"In the end, it was Israel's decision, and regardless of whether Israel considers it proportional or not and how Iran views it, I mean it may be two different things," added Defense Secretary Austin.

"We will do, continue to do everything we can to defuse tensions and hopefully make both parties start to defuse tensions. So, we'll see what happens," he said.

Austin's comments came a day after two reports indicated the THAAD system was already operating in Israel.

Kan's public broadcast reported late Sunday that missile defense batteries had started operating in Israel, citing two Israeli sources, while Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya outlet quoted a source as saying three batteries were functioning.

About 100 US troops are expected to be deployed to operate the system, which is considered a complementary system to the Patriot system but can maintain a wider region, capable of hitting targets at a distance of 150-200 kilometers (93-124 miles).

Last Tuesday, the Pentagon said a preliminary team of US military personnel and the initial components needed to operate the system had arrived in Israel the day before.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said at the time additional US military personnel and THAAD battery components would continue to arrive in Israel for the coming days.

Major General Ryder added that the air defense battery will be fully operational and capable in the near future, but the exact schedule will not be announced due to security concerns.

"THAAD's battery placement to Israel underscores the United States' commitment to defend Israel and to defend Americans in Israel from any ballistic missile attack by Iran," Major General Ryder said last week.