The United States will deploy an anti-missile defense system and around a hundred soldiers in Israel

The Pentagon announced this Sunday, October 13 that USA sends an advanced system of missile defense has Israel .

Along with this, The North American country will send around 100 soldiers who will perform the task of operating said mechanism.

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said in a statement seen by the New York Times that President Joe Biden issued the order to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin .

This is a relevant movement, because it the first significant deployment of American forces in Israel since October 7, 2023 .

The latter was the date the militant group Hamas carried out a direct offensive on Israeli territory, which left 1,200 dead and approximately 250 hostages.

After this episode, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded with continued attacks on the Gaza Strip, which left around 42,300 people dead according to the latest report from local health authorities.

The conflict, so far, gives no sign that a ceasefire can be achieved Middle East .

Currently, Israel has confrontations with Hezbollah in Lebanon, with the Houthis in Yemen, with Iran and with the Shiite militias of Syria and Iraq .

The United States ad can be found two weeks after Iranian forces carried out an airstrike with some 180 missiles against Israel last October 1st.

After this offensive – during which a large part of the projectiles were intercepted -, Prime Minister Netanyahu vows to launch a counterattack .

However, always no details are known about its retaliatory plan against Iran .

The American shipment to Israel considers the high altitude missile defense system (THAAD) .

It is a mechanism land-based and mobile designed to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles .

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) They hope that this new addition will help in the defense of cities, troops and installations. as well as other systems such as the Iron Dome, Arrow and David’s Sling.

According to the aforementioned American newspaper, When President Biden was asked about the measure on Sunday, he only responded that he had ordered its deployment “to defend Israel.” .

For his part, Major General Ryder declared in the press release that THAAD battery would ‘augment Israel’s integrated air defense system’ .

“This action Underscores America’s unwavering commitment to the defense of Israel and the defense of Americans in Israel of any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran,” the Pentagon press secretary stressed.

Along with this, he stated that “It’s part of broader adjustments the U.S. military has made in recent months. to support Israel’s defense and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iran-aligned militias.

Until now, No precise date has been specified for the arrival of the THAAD system and the hundred American soldiers. in Israel.

However, the senior official assured Times on Sunday it would take at least a week so that the mechanism and the soldiers responsible for operating it reach the territory.

Although this recent announcement represents the first deployment of American troops to Israel since October 7, 2023, The army of the North American country took other measures on the territory .

For example, by mid-2024, In May, it built a temporary dock off the coast of Gaza, with the aim of delivering humanitarian aid. .

Afterwards, In July it was dismantled due to damage caused by strong water currents, as reported at the time.

At the end of September, The Pentagon has warned that it will send “thousands” of its soldiers to the Middle East, where they have a military presence. through soldiers, warships and a dozen fighter planes.

A senior official consulted by the Times He estimated this amount between 2,000 and 3,000 effective.

USA It also deployed a THAAD battery as well as other air defense systems after the outbreak of the Gaza war. at the end of last year.

According to the aforementioned Big Apple-based newspaper, senior Pentagon officials are in the middle of a debate over the effects of a greater military presence in the region.

While some think this could limit the war, others They assume it could intensify tensions in the conflict.

In fact, according to Timesover the last few weeks Several of them expressed concern about the campaign led by Israeli troops against Hezbollah in Lebanon. .

It is good to remember that Israel launched ground operations in the south of that country and a bombardment by its forces killed the militant group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. on September 27 in the suburbs of Beirut.

The attack carried out by Iran on September 1 was presented precisely as an act of retaliation. for his recent operations.

US officials said, according to the Timesthat the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. raised issue of Israeli campaign in meetings both at the Pentagon and the White House.

Another senior military official assured that, In addition to him, Austin and other authorities attempted to strike a balance to avoid the threat of a wider war. .

The Secretary of Defense had a call with the Israeli minister of the same portfolio, Yoav Gallant on Saturday October 12.

A Pentagon statement reporting on this conversation specified that Austin “expressed deep concern over reports that Israeli forces fired on Israeli positions. UN peacekeeping in Lebanon as well as for the alleged death of two Lebanese soldiers.