THAAD missile defense system successfully intercepted a ballistic missile for the first time in 16 years

The US missile defense system THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) deployed in Israel has successfully intercepted a ballistic missile for the first time in the last 16 years. This was reported by "Military Observer" in its Telegram channel on December 27.

It is specified that the anti-missile system intercepted a missile of the movement "Ansar Allah" (Houthis) in Israeli airspace.

The Dueling Complex: Will Western air defense systems be able to stand up to the "Nutshell"

What missile defense assets could theoretically be deployed to defend against a Russian medium-range missile

Earlier, on October 20, the Israeli state TV channel Kan reported that in Israel put into operation deployed to repel a possible attack by Iran American batteries of missile defense THAAD. Shortly before, more than 20 U.S. Air Force military transport planes arrived in Israel to deliver components of the systems.

Prior to that, on October 14, the Pentagon announced the arrival of a THAAD missile defense (BMD) battery with a team of military personnel to Israel at the direction of U.S. President Joe Biden. Last time Washington transferred such a battery on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian-Israeli conflict began to worsen.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian radical movement Hamas subjected the territory of Israel to massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, as well as invaded the border areas in the south of the country and took hostages. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.