US to deploy 100 troops and advanced anti-missile defence system to Israel 

The United States will deploy 100 US troops to Israel, along with an advanced anti-missile defence system to strengthen the country’s air defences. This marks the first US military deployment there since Tel Aviv’s brutal offensive on Gaza began on 7 October last year.

According to The New York Times, Pentagon spokesperson, Patrick Ryder, confirmed in a statement on Sunday that President Joe Biden ordered the deployment through Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin.

“This action underscores the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defence of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran,” the statement said.

It added, “It is part of the broader adjustments the US military has made in recent months to support the defence of Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-aligned militias.”

This move places American troops on Israeli soil for the first time during the war, which has now expanded into an Israeli invasion of Lebanon and carries the risk of a broader war with Iran.

President Biden further confirmed on Sunday that he had ordered the deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) missile system “to defend Israel”. The mobile defence system, which will be operated by the American troops in Israel, will boost Israel’s air defence capabilities. The system, manufactured by US defence company, Lockheed Martin, can intercept both short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.

The decision comes amid Pentagon discussions on whether the increased US military presence is containing the war or escalating it, reported The New York Times. Throughout the war, the Biden administration has continued to provide weapons and military aid to Israel.

READ: World will be complicit in Israel’s ‘crimes’ if they don’t stop them, Israeli rights groups warn

According to a report published by Brown University last week, the US has provided Israel with nearly $18 billion in arms since the start of Tel Aviv’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip.

The US has also approved arms sales worth billions of dollars, ensuring future military cooperation. In August 2024, the Biden administration announced a $20.3 billion arms deal with Israel, which includes 50 Boeing F-15 fighter jets and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Some officials fear Israel’s aggressive actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon may be encouraged by the US military backing. General Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has raised concerns about the impact of the US presence on overall military readiness, particularly in regard to conflicts with China or Russia.

Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, expressed concerns to Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, over Israeli forces firing on UN peacekeepers and the deaths of two Lebanese soldiers, the Pentagon said in a statement.

On 1 October, Iran launched an attack involving around 180 missiles, reportedly in retaliation for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the former chief of Hamas’ political bureau, along with Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah and a Revolutionary Guard official, Abbas Neelvroushan, in Tehran.

The Israeli military later confirmed that the missile barrage caused damage to some of its air bases and indicated that preparations for retaliatory action against Tehran were underway.

Iran has defended its missile strike, citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, which allows member states to use force in self-defence following an armed attack.