The US has just deployed one of our own advanced anti-missile systems in Israel in order to help protect against a ballistic missile threat from Iran or other countries:
AP – The American and Israeli militaries say the U.S. has deployed a highly advanced anti-missile defense system in Israel for the first time.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or Thaad, as a testament to the strength of the two countries’ military ties, saying that it makes Israel “even stronger in order to deal with near and distant threats from throughout the Middle East.”
Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli army spokesman, told reporters that Thaad arrived in Israel Monday, and had only been deployed a few times elsewhere.
Israeli officials have repeatedly raised concerns about Iran’s development of long-range missiles as well as the Hezbollah militant group’s vast arsenal of rockets and missiles in Lebanon.
Netanyahu made the announcement this morning:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the exercise deployment of the US THAAD anti-missile system in Israel:
"Deployment of the American anti-missile system in Israel is additional testimony to the commitment of the US to the security of Israel." pic.twitter.com/jN5ZcF0y1k— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) March 4, 2019
PM Netanyahu: "The American THAAD system is considered one of the most advanced systems in the world, and together with our defensive systems we are even stronger in order to deal with near and distant threats from throughout the Middle East."
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) March 4, 2019
PM Netanyahu: "The bond between the US and Israel has never been stronger.
I welcome the holding of this joint exercise."— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) March 4, 2019
I love to see the US working so closely with Israel on matters of their security.
As you know they already have the Iron Dome as well as the Arrow, the latter of which helps protect against ballistic missile threats.
But from this video on Lockheed’s Thaad system, it suggests that Thaad helps protect an area of the atmosphere that isn’t protected by the other systems. Watch it below: