Tel Aviv: The United States has recently transferred a THAAD air defence system from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Israel in response to escalating security threats, specifically the increased ballistic missile threat from Iran in 2025.
The increased threat of Iranian missile attacks on Israel prompted the US to redeploy its THAAD batteries stationed in the UAE to Israeli territory.
Two THAAD systems were actively employed to intercept incoming Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Israeli cities and installations during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025. This arrangement bolstered the capabilities of the Israeli Arrow and David’s Sling air defence systems.
During the 12 days war US forces launched over 150 THAAD interceptors defending Israel, representing nearly a quarter of the total US THAAD inventory.
The rapid depletion raised concerns about US missile stockpile levels and future readiness, given slow annual replenishment rates for THAAD interceptors.
The UAE was previously the first country outside the US to engage THAAD interceptors in real combat, defending against Houthi missile attacks from Yemen in 2022.
In recent years the US and Israel have conducted joint air defence exercises and that enabled the fast smooth integration of the THAAD with the Israeli multi-US layered air defence systems.
THAAD is now fully integrated into Israel’s missile defence system, complementing indigenous solutions and providing high-altitude interception for ballistic threats.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
