The initial components of a US anti-missile system known as THAAD have begun arriving in Israel, along with its military crew. The shipment comes as tensions rise over a possible Israeli military strike on Iran.
On Tuesday, US Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said, “This decision was made in part of the broader adjustments the US military has made in recent months to support the defense of Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-aligned militias.”
The Pentagon said it will be sending additional THAAD components and personnel and that the system will be operational “in the near future.”
THAAD, which is short for Terminal High- Altitude Area Defense, is a system that fires a projectile that destroys missiles by colliding with them.
US media outlets have reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has notified US President Joe Biden of an impending attack on Iran’s military facilities.
Netanyahu had previously vowed to retaliate for Iran’s missile attack against his country on October 1st. Iran has warned that if Israel goes ahead with the plan, it will strike back.