By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — At the request of President Joe Biden, the Pentagon authorized the deployment of an advanced air defense system to Israel and U.S. troops to operate it.
In the wake of recent air attacks by Iran and Hezbollah, the U.S. is deploying the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) to the Middle East. According to the Pentagon, components of the system and some military personnel have already arrived in Israel.
It’s not the first time the system has been sent to the Middle East. However, sending additional U.S. troops into Israel, at a time when tension is extremely high, is significant.
On Monday, an advance team of U.S. military personnel arrived in Israel. In total, about 100 U.S. troops will deploy to Israel to assist THAAD operations.
The move comes as Israel is believed to be planning a response to Iran’s large-scale attack on Oct 1. U.S. officials have made clear they do not want Israel to target Iranian nuclear sites or oil fields.
Additionally, the Biden administration placed new pressure on the Israeli government over the weekend to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“What we have seen over the past few months is that the level of humanitarian assistance has not been sustained. In fact, it has fallen by over 50% from where it was at its peak,” said Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department.
In a joint letter from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to Israeli defense officials, the administration unveiled a list of demands within the next 30 days. Among the demands include allowing at least 350 trucks to enter Gaza each day through all major crossings and increased security for humanitarian convoys and movements.
“We know that it’s possible to get humanitarian assistance into Gaza. We know it can be done,” said Miller. “Our hope is that Israel will make the changes that we have outlined and that we have recommended, and that the result of those changes will be a dramatic increase in humanitarian assistance.”
If Israel does not abide within the provided timeframe, U.S. military aid could be in jeopardy.
“It is incumbent upon the government of Israel to surmount those challenges and get assistance in,” said Miller. “It is appropriate to give them some time to work through the different issues and find ways to get the level of trucks, get the level of food, water, medicine back up to acceptable levels.”
