Virginia [US], October 14 : The United States (US) is sending its advanced anti-missile system Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) battery, to Israel, along with a US military crew to operate it.
An announcement in this regard was made by the Pentagon on Sunday.
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. General Pat Ryder said in a statement that at the direction of the President, Secretary Lloyd Austin authorized the deployment of a THAAD battery and associated crew of US military personnel to Israel to help bolster Israel's air defense following Iran's unprecedented attack against Israel on April 13 and again on October 1.
"The THAAD battery will augment Israel's integrated air defense system. This action underscores the United State's ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from and further ballistic missile attacks by Iran. It is part of the broader adjustments the US military has made in recent months, to support the defense of Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-aligned militias," said Ryder.
"This is not the first time the US has deployed a THAAD battery to the region. The President directed the military to deploy a THAAD battery to the Middle East last year following the October 7th attacks to defend American troops and interests in the region," he said.
The United States previously deployed a THAAD battery to Israel in 2019 for training and an integrated air defense exercise, he added.
Earlier, a large barrage of anti-tank missiles was fired towards Israeli troops in southern Lebanon on Sunday, a statement by the Israel Defence Forces said.
The IDF stated that during the attack, two soldiers were severely injured and multiple other soldiers were lightly and moderately injured.
In a post on X, the IDF said, "Earlier today (Sunday), a large barrage of anti-tank missiles was fired toward IDF troops in southern Lebanon. During the attack, two IDF soldiers were severely injured and multiple other soldiers were lightly and moderately injured. Their families have been notified."
"An initial review showed that an IDF tank that was trying to evacuate injured soldiers while still under fire backed several meters into a UNIFIL post. Once the enemy fire stopped, and following the evacuation of the injured soldiers, the tank left the post. During the incident, a smoke screen was used to provide cover for the evacuation of the injured soldiers. IDF soldiers maintained coordination with UNIFIL. Throughout the entirety of the incident, no danger was posed to UNIFIL forces by the IDF activity," the IDF added.
Earlier in the day, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to withdraw UN peacekeeping forces from southern Lebanon, citing the danger posed to both 'UNIFIL soldiers and Israeli troops'.
Netanyahu stated that the refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers has effectively turned them into hostages of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist group operating in Lebanon.
In a video address on Sunday Netanyahu affirmed, "We are marking one year of the harsh war that was forced on us - the war of redemption against Iran's axis of evil, which has risen up to destroy us."
He further emphasized Israel's determination to ensure its future and defeat its enemies. He highlighted the military's successes in Lebanon and affirmed, "We eliminated Nasrallah and his senior personnel. Our heroic soldiers are destroying Hezbollah's weapons, command centers, and terrorist tunnels."
Meanwhile, Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, expressed concerns over reports of Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) targeting UNIFIL peacekeepers.
"Alarming news on the IDF breaching UNIFIL positions. Israel must immediately stop its attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers and ensure proper protection for all UN personnel in accordance with int'l humanitarian law," Valtonen wrote in a post on X.
{{{{twitter_post_id####}}}}Alarming news on the IDF breaching UNIFIL positions. Israel must immediately stop its attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers and ensure proper protection for all UN personnel in accordance with int’l humanitarian law. Will discuss the situation tomorrow in the Foreign Affairs Council.— Elina Valtonen (@elinavaltonen) October 13, 2024
"Will discuss the situation tomorrow in the Foreign Affairs Council," she added.
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