<p>In reaction to recent assaults on American soldiers stationed in the area, the Pentagon said on Saturday that the United States will deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and more Patriot air defense missile system battalions to the Middle East.<img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-248595″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/theindiaprint.com-indias-foreign-exchange-reserves-increased-by-1-15-billion-to-585-9-billion-in-the.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com indias foreign exchange reserves increased by 1 15 billion to 585 9 billion in the” width=”1204″ height=”674″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/theindiaprint.com-indias-foreign-exchange-reserves-increased-by-1-15-billion-to-585-9-billion-in-the.jpg 300w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/theindiaprint.com-indias-foreign-exchange-reserves-increased-by-1-15-billion-to-585-9-billion-in-the-150×84.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 1204px) 100vw, 1204px” title=”Amid escalating tensions, the US will send THAAD and Patriot systems to the Middle East 3″></p>
<p>In recent weeks, the United States has sent a sizable naval force to the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, their support ships, and around 2,000 Marines. As regional tensions rise due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Washington is on high alert for activities by organizations with Iranian support.</p>
<p>Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement saying, “Following in-depth discussions with President (Joe) Biden on recent escalation by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East Region, today I directed a series of additional steps to further strengthen the Department of Defense posture in the region.”</p>
<p>Austin did not specify how many extra soldiers he was putting on prepare-to-deploy orders. A total of 2,000 soldiers have already been put on heightened alert by the Pentagon in case they need to deploy to the area. These actions, according to Austin, “will strengthen regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for American forces in the region, and aid in the defense of Israel.”</p>
<p>IS THAAD WHAT?</p>
<p>Two years after the Biden administration removed air defense systems from the Middle East due to a thawing of tensions with Iran, the US defense system has already been deployed. The Patriot is regarded as one of the most sophisticated American air defense systems, and allies from across the globe compete for it.</p>
<p>A potent radar is part of the THAAD system. China was incensed by the U.S.’s deployment of the system to South Korea in 2016 because it thought it might spy on its skies. Since the battle between Israel and Hamas terrorists in Gaza started, there has been an increase in assaults on American soldiers in Iraq and Syria. More than a dozen drones and four cruise missiles launched from Yemen by the Houthis, who are supported by Iran, were downed by an American warship last week.</p>
<p>After the cross-border Islamist terrorist onslaught on southern Israel on October 7 that left 1,400 people dead, mostly civilians, and traumatized Israel, Israel began its “total siege” of Gaza. Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Saturday that at least 4,385 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, had been killed by Israeli air and missile attacks, while more than a million of the territory’s 2.3 million inhabitants had been evacuated.</p>
Amid escalating tensions, the US will send THAAD and Patriot systems to the Middle East
