The US (United States) has confirmed launching a state-of-the-art anti-missile THAAD designed specifically to counter short, intermediate, and ballistic missile launches.
As a counterattack against the Iranian missile bombardment, and key members of Hezbollah the United States under the direction of President Joe Biden has retaliated in response and launched THAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defence along with the deployment of 100 troops of soldiers to operate it.
‘THAAD’ missile battery
To protect its allies, Israel the US Missile Defense Agency has reportedly developed and launched a THAAD defense battery to intercept the ranges of missiles mid-air before the impact. It strikes targets at the range of 150-200 kilometers and is believed to be the complementary system of PATRIOT, a recently retired US system by Israel.
Pentagon released a statement affirming that it is to add another layer to Israel’s already significant air defense system and “to defend Israel”, it includes a separate system designed to detect short-range and medium-range threats mid-air and counter them.
How does ‘THAAD’ work?
THAAD operates from the ground and is designed to intercept short-range, medium-range, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the “terminal phase” to strike them down mid-air before the impact. THAAD can target missiles both inside and outside the atmosphere, making it highly adaptable to ranges of threat.
The system uses hit-to-kill energy to launch the missile, it relies on kinetic energy rather than explosive warheads meaning the missile takes out the incoming target by colliding with it. The launched weapon can travel at a range of 6,000 mph.
Raging war in the middle east
Amidst the expanding war in the Middle East, there has been a series of missile attacks on Israel by Tehran because of the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghachi has stern warnings and made a bold remark stating US is putting the lives of their soldiers at risk- “the country will have no red line in protecting its people and interests in the fight against Israel, and if an attack is carried out the response will be more powerful than before”. Highlights how the involvement of American troops will further fuel the tensions in West Asia.
Why’s this a significant move?
President Joe Biden has opposed any attacks on Iranian oil and energy infrastructure as well as its nuclear facilities, stating that the situation might escalate and cause an impact on the global economy.
Or it could also be said that the launch of THAAD might signal the part of the US planning to bridge the gap identified in Israel’s air defense although, President Joe Biden released a statement mentioning deployment of the THAAD system was meant to add as a “defense layer” to Israel’s already significant air defense.
The whole situation in the Middle East has escalated to no extent further involvement of superpowers will further fuel the tension among nations, and the impact could be seen globally.
With inputs from agencies
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