Pentagon announces deployment of US troops to Israel
For the first time since the onset of the Hamas war, American forces will deploy a missile defense battery in Israel. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
American forces will be deployed to operate a missile defense battery in anticipation of a possible Israeli strike on Iran.
The US has announced the deployment of a THAAD air defense system to Israel, along with a contingent of American service members to operate it, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. This marks the first instance of US combat troops being stationed on Israeli soil since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict last year.
Ryder stated that the THAAD battery “and associated crew of US military personnel” will be positioned in Israel “to help bolster Israel’s air defenses following Iran’s unprecedented attacks against Israel on April 13 and again on October 1.”
President Joe Biden, who the White House had previously indicated had “no plans or intentions to put US boots on the ground in combat,” authorized the deployment, as noted by Ryder.
The THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, is a mobile anti-ballistic missile system engineered to detect and intercept ballistic missiles during their descent phase. It utilizes a non-explosive projectile, traveling at eight times the speed of sound, and relies on kinetic energy to neutralize incoming threats.
A THAAD battery is made up of 95 soldiers and six truck-mounted launchers that are capable of firing a total of 48 interceptors.
Previously, a THAAD battery was dispatched to Saudi Arabia after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war last October, and a similar system was sent to Israel during a training exercise in 2019. However, since the current conflict began, neither the system nor the American personnel operating it had been deployed to Israel.
While American troops participated in a short aid mission off the coast of Gaza earlier this year, they did not enter the Palestinian territory.
This deployment coincides with Israel’s preparations for a response to an Iranian missile attack on October 1, which involved around 200 ballistic missiles aimed at Israeli military targets. Iran asserts that the strike was a “legitimate” response to Israel’s assassination of notable figures such as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and a senior Iranian general in Beirut.
Israel is anticipated to target Iran's oil or nuclear facilities, although the US has counseled against either option. Iran has promised to retaliate in any response from Israel. A source in Tehran recently informed RTN that such retaliation would be “proportionate.” Should Israel hit Iran’s oil facilities, Tehran has indicated it would respond by attacking Israeli oil refineries. Similar actions directed at other infrastructure, including power plants or nuclear sites, would result in corresponding retaliatory attacks on similar installations in Israel.
Just hours before Ryder’s announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi cautioned that the deployment of US troops to operate missile systems in Israel could jeopardize “the lives of its troops.” He emphasized, “While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests.”
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
The US has announced the deployment of a THAAD air defense system to Israel, along with a contingent of American service members to operate it, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. This marks the first instance of US combat troops being stationed on Israeli soil since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict last year.
Ryder stated that the THAAD battery “and associated crew of US military personnel” will be positioned in Israel “to help bolster Israel’s air defenses following Iran’s unprecedented attacks against Israel on April 13 and again on October 1.”
President Joe Biden, who the White House had previously indicated had “no plans or intentions to put US boots on the ground in combat,” authorized the deployment, as noted by Ryder.
The THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, is a mobile anti-ballistic missile system engineered to detect and intercept ballistic missiles during their descent phase. It utilizes a non-explosive projectile, traveling at eight times the speed of sound, and relies on kinetic energy to neutralize incoming threats.
A THAAD battery is made up of 95 soldiers and six truck-mounted launchers that are capable of firing a total of 48 interceptors.
Previously, a THAAD battery was dispatched to Saudi Arabia after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war last October, and a similar system was sent to Israel during a training exercise in 2019. However, since the current conflict began, neither the system nor the American personnel operating it had been deployed to Israel.
While American troops participated in a short aid mission off the coast of Gaza earlier this year, they did not enter the Palestinian territory.
This deployment coincides with Israel’s preparations for a response to an Iranian missile attack on October 1, which involved around 200 ballistic missiles aimed at Israeli military targets. Iran asserts that the strike was a “legitimate” response to Israel’s assassination of notable figures such as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and a senior Iranian general in Beirut.
Israel is anticipated to target Iran's oil or nuclear facilities, although the US has counseled against either option. Iran has promised to retaliate in any response from Israel. A source in Tehran recently informed RTN that such retaliation would be “proportionate.” Should Israel hit Iran’s oil facilities, Tehran has indicated it would respond by attacking Israeli oil refineries. Similar actions directed at other infrastructure, including power plants or nuclear sites, would result in corresponding retaliatory attacks on similar installations in Israel.
Just hours before Ryder’s announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi cautioned that the deployment of US troops to operate missile systems in Israel could jeopardize “the lives of its troops.” He emphasized, “While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests.”
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
