AFP via Getty ImagesThe Pentagon confirmed that it will send a high-altitude missile system operated by US soldiers to Israel. The US already has a small contingent in Israel, but the new deployment of 100 troops signals a further US involvement in the regional war. The crisis is growing and it’s being examined for clues about the effectiveness of Israel’s missile defences. Israel has yet to launch their retaliation against Iran’s attack. According to Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, the retaliation will be “lethal” and “precision”. It will also be “surprising”. What we know about Iran’s missile attack on IsraelWhat Israel’s latest attacks reveal about Netanyahu’s next moveIt is unclear whether the Thaad system deployment is part US contingency plans to bridge gaps identified by Israel’s aerial defences or if it reflects growing concerns in Washington about a more aggressive Israeli strike against Iran. President Biden opposed any attack on Iranian facilities, including its oil and energy infrastructure, for fear that it could trigger a spiralling war and affect the global economic system. Their speed is one of their biggest advantages over drones or cruise missiles. Lockheed Martin, America’s largest arms manufacturer, says the Thaad system can be highly effective against ballistic rockets. Raytheon, a second American weapons company, manufactures the advanced radar. The system consists of six truck-mounted launchers with eight interceptors per launcher. It costs around $1bn (PS766m), and requires about 100 people to operate. Thaad is highly sought after, including by Ukraine to counter Russian rocket attacks. Saudi Arabia had placed orders for it and wanted more as part a US weapons bonanza for officially recognising Israel. This so-called “normalisation deal” was largely derailed following the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas. Israel’s aerial defence system was developed in collaboration with the US and includes Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 Exo-atmospheric Missiles. These missiles can be shot down in space and fly at hypersonic speeds. The Israeli designers of the Arrow system said that it “performed as anticipated” and produced “wonderful results” against the Iranian attack. The US, along with some European and Arab nations, supported the defensive operation by firing interceptors out of two naval destroyers on the eastern Mediterranean. Washington described the Iranian strike as a “defeated” and “ineffective” one. But the damage on the ground painted a different picture. Satellite images showed damage to the Israeli Air Force base Nevatim, which houses F-35 jet fighters. These satellite images included craters in a taxiway and runway. Decker Eveleth, from the Washington-based Center for Naval Analyses(CNA), said that the images showed 32 impacts points, including multiple strikes in the area of F35 hangers. Eveleth wrote on X that “Some F-35s were really lucky”. Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, reported that it is still unclear if the damage was caused by direct missiles or intercepted shrapnel. Other direct impacts were also reported, including in Tel Aviv. One missile is reported to have blown a 30ft (9 metre) deep hole in a densely-populated area near the headquarters of Mossad (Israel’s spy agency). According to Israeli figures, the US has sent over 50,000 tonnes of weapons to Israel during the past year. It also highlights the policy contortions of Washington. First, it tried to pressure Israel and its enemies not to escalate the conflict. Instead, it urged diplomacy. The White House, when diplomacy failed, backed Israel’s decisions and defended it diplomatically and military. Israel has said that it has been attacking Hezbollah leadership and destroying their vast missile stores because of 11 months of cross border rocket fire into Israel. The Pentagon says the Thaad deployment is part of the “broader adjustments” the US military made in recent months to support Israel and protect American personnel from attacks from Iran and Iranian-backed group. It is rare for the US to send troops to Israel other than for drills, given Israel’s capabilities. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned on Sunday that the US was putting the lives of its troops “at risk by deploying them to operate US missile systems in Israel”.Middle EastIsrael-Gaza warIsraelSayyid Hassan NasrallahLebanonIranUnited StatesJoe Biden
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