First Deployment: Israel Uses the US THAAD System to Counter Houthi Rebels! What’s Special About It?

First Deployment: Israel Uses the US THAAD System to Counter Houthi Rebels! What’s Special About It?

*THAAD System Used to Intercept Houthi Missile*
Tel Aviv: Amid rising missile attacks, Israel has deployed the US-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense system for the first time to safeguard its security.

Yesterday, Israel used the American THAAD missile defense system to intercept a ballistic missile launched from Yemen. Reports indicate that the missile was fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, and THAAD successfully neutralized it.

In October, the US provided its advanced THAAD defense system to Israel. According to the Times of Israel, this is the first time the missile defense system has been deployed. Additionally, the Israeli army shared a video of the system’s activation on Twitter.

In the video, an American soldier exclaims, “I’ve been waiting for this moment for 18 years,” as the THAAD system launches. The footage has since circulated widely on social media. This marks the first deployment of THAAD in Israel since the ballistic missile attacks by Iran on October 1. The advanced system is capable of intercepting missiles both within and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

*What’s Special About It?*
The THAAD system, developed by the US, is designed to intercept short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase. Unlike traditional systems, THAAD neutralizes threats through kinetic energy, destroying incoming missiles on impact rather than using explosive warheads.

A standard THAAD battery comprises six truck-mounted launchers, each capable of holding eight interceptors. It also includes a radar system and fire control units. The radar can detect aerial threats from a range of 870 to 3,000 kilometers and destroy them mid-air.

U.S. Missile Defense System (THAAD) used for first time in Israel to intercept attack from Iran-backed Houthis

A voice was saying he had waited “18 years waiting for this,” a potential reference to the system’s age.

Video: @JewishWarrior13 pic.twitter.com/dJzcj2OY56

— Steve Gruber (@stevegrubershow) December 28, 2024

*Houthi Rebels Strike Israel for the Fifth Time*
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched missile attacks on Israel five times within just eight days. In the past, they targeted Ben Gurion Airport. In retaliation, Israeli fighter jets conducted strikes on Houthi rebel bases in Yemen, targeting key infrastructure, including the Hejaz power station and Sana’a International Airport.

Last year, the Houthis launched over 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel, most of which were intercepted, according to the IDF. The Houthi group has also disrupted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, targeting over 100 merchant vessels. As a precaution, shipping routes have been altered.

Read More;World’s Largest Dam on Brahmaputra River: China Justifies the Project