Saudi report claims US transfers multiple air defense missile battery systems to Israel amid attacks by Yemenite Houthis and against backdrop of saber-rattling between US and Iran.
By World Israel News Staff
The United States has transferred multiple advanced missile defense systems to Israel recently, a Saudi news outlet has reported, following a string of ballistic missile attacks by Houthi terrorists on Israel, and amid saber-rattling between the Trump administration and Iran fueling concerns of a possible military confrontation.
According to a report published Saturday night by the Al-Hadath channel, the United States has recently transferred to Israel a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, along with two Patriot missile batteries.
If confirmed, this would mark the second THAAD battery to be deployed in the Jewish state.
In October, 2024, the Biden administration transferred a THAAD battery to Israel, along with roughly 100 U.S. soldiers.
The anti-missile defense system, built by Lockheed Martin, uses a kinetic energy projectile to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles at altitudes of up to 150 kilometers (94 miles) and at ranges of over 200 kilometers (125 miles).
Patriot missiles are effective against a wider range of targets, including not only ballistic missiles, but cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles, but have a significantly shorter range and with a lower intercept altitude.
The first THAAD battery deployed to Israel has intercepted multiple ballistic missiles launched by Houthis terrorists in Yemen towards Israel since last October.
Last week, President Donald Trump and senior Iranian leaders traded threats, after Tehran rejected an overture by the U.S. president to engage in direct talks with the goal of achieving a new nuclear deal.
Shortly afterwards, Trump said that if no new deal was reached, the U.S. may strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, prompting warnings by the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, against both the U.S. and Israel.
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