US deploying THAAD, additional missile defense systems to West Asia, says Pentagon

The United States military is deploying a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and multiple Patriot missile defense systems to the West Asia region, reports from the Pentagon said amid the ongoing Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement issued on Saturday night, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said he had “activated the deployment of a THAAD battery as well as additional Patriot battalions to locations throughout [West Asia].”

Austin claimed that in response to “recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East region,” he directed a series of additional steps “to further strengthen the Department of Defense posture in the region.”

While Iranian officials have repeatedly announced that supporting Palestine is Iran’s foreign policy priority, they have made clear that the resistance groups make their own independent decisions and Iran is not involved in their responses.

Austin also said he has placed an unspecified number of additional forces to prepare on “prepare to deploy orders” as part of “contingency planning,” to increase their readiness and ability to quickly respond as required.

“I will continue to assess our force posture requirements in the region and consider deploying additional capabilities as necessary,” Austin added.

The US has already deployed two carrier strike groups to the region, as well as fighter jets, and is preparing 2,000 troops to be readied to deploy there.

The Patriot is considered one of the most advanced US air defense systems. The THAAD is a highly effective, combat-proven defense against short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.

Israel has unleashed a devastating war on Gaza since the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7 in reaction to the regime's rising tide of violence against Palestinians.

The United States and other Western allies have pledged support for the Tel Aviv regime's war on the Gaza Strip.

MG