To frighten
USA is upgrading missile defenses in the “entire” Middle East
October 22, 2023, 6:31 a.m
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The USA has two aircraft carriers in the Middle East, but its presence is expected to become even stronger in the future. The increasing activities of terrorist groups are prompting the Biden administration to provide more protection for its own troops and allies.
The US has announced the deployment of missile defense systems and additional troops to the “entire” Middle East. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said this was in response to the “recent escalation” by Iran and its allies. Austin did not say how many additional US troops would be stationed in the region. Accordingly, a THAAD-type missile defense system and several batteries of Patriot surface-to-air missiles are to be stationed in the region.
The United States has deployed a significant amount of naval forces to the Middle East in recent weeks, including two aircraft carriers, their escort ships and about 2,000 Marines. Washington is on heightened alert over activity by Iran-backed terror groups as regional tensions rise amid the war between Israel and Hamas.
“These steps are intended to strengthen regional deterrence efforts, increase the protection of U.S. forces in the region and support the defense of Israel,” Austin said. The deployment comes two years after the Biden administration withdrew air defense systems from the Middle East to ease tensions with Iran.
Attacks on US forces increased
The Patriot defense system is considered one of the most advanced of its kind, the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) has a powerful radar. The system’s deployment in South Korea in 2016 angered China because Beijing believed the U.S. could invade its airspace.
Since the conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, the number of attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria has increased. Last week, a U.S. warship shot down more than a dozen drones and four cruise missiles fired from Yemen by the Iran-backed Houthis.
Hamas launched a major attack on Israel on October 7th and, according to Israeli sources, killed at least 1,400 people and kidnapped around 200 hostages in the Gaza Strip. In response to the attack, Israel sealed off the Gaza Strip and launched massive airstrikes there. According to Hamas, at least 4,385 people have been killed and 13,561 others injured in the area since the war began.