Israel Deploys US THAAD System to Intercept Houthi Missile

The US-operated missile defense system was used for the first time to counter a projectile from Yemen, intensifying regional tensions and raising humanitarian concerns.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, deployed by the US in Israel in October, intercepted a missile launched by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen targeting Israeli territory.
This marks the first operational use of the THAAD system in Israel, handled by US troops stationed in the country to bolster its air defense capabilities.
The missile attack was part of a series of Houthi strikes, which the group claims are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza; Israel responded with airstrikes on Houthi infrastructure in Yemen, including Sanaa International Airport.
The UN has raised concerns about the humanitarian impact of Israeli airstrikes on civilian infrastructure in Yemen, warning of severe disruptions to aid delivery for the 18 million Yemenis reliant on humanitarian assistance.
The THAAD system, developed by Lockheed Martin, complements Israel’s existing missile defenses like the Iron Dome, offering additional protection against medium- to long-range threats in a region marked by escalating conflict.