The Pentagon has confirmed the Biden administration is
planning to send a missile defence system to Israel to protect against any
Iranian threats.
It also says US troops will be deployed to operate the
system, known as “THAAD”.
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense requires 95 soldiers
to operate.
It is highly effective in shooting down short, medium and
intermediate-range ballistic missiles. It can hit targets as far as 200
kilometres away.
It consists of six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors,
radio and radar equipment.
The United States previously deployed a THAAD battery to
Israel in 2019 for training and an integrated air defence exercise.
Al Jazeera's Defence Editor Alex Gatopoulos explains.
