Washington deployed a THAAD battery, designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles, to Israel around a year ago.

The THAAD defense system is one of the US military’s most powerful anti-missile weapons, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles at ranges of 150 to 200 kilometers (93 to 124 miles) and with a near-perfect success rate in testing.

The move comes as U.S. and Israel are holding talks on a possible Israeli attack on Iran.

A military deployment to Israel is rare outside of drills. U.S. troops have aided Israel from warships and fighter jets when it came under Iranian attack, but they were outside the country.

The US will send an advanced anti-missile system — and US troops to operate it — to Israel “to help bolster Israel’s air defenses following Iran’s unprecedented attacks against Israel on April 13 and again on October 1,

The Pentagon says the United States will send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery to Israel along with troops needed to operate it.

Israeli soldiers display what they say is an entrance to a Hezbollah tunnel found during their ground operation in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil) The U.

The move “underscores the United States' ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel,” a Pentagon spokesperson said.

"At the direction of the President, Secretary Austin authorized the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and associated crew of U.S. military personnel to Israel to help bolster Israel's air defenses following Iran's unprecedented attacks against Israel on April 13 and again on October 1,

The United States said on Sunday it will send to Israel an advanced anti-missile system – and U.S. troops to operate it.