Israel is reportedly gearing up for a potential military action against Iran, in coordination with the United States, following an Iranian missile attack earlier this month, as reported by Israeli media outlet Channel 12 on Sunday.
The Israeli military has already determined its response plan against Iran, though the timing remains uncertain. On Saturday, Israel announced the deployment of the US-manufactured Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to bolster its defence against long-range ballistic missile threats.
Channel 12 indicated that the THAAD deployment forms part of Israel’s preparations for a major strike on Iran and that Israel is closely coordinating with the US, which will be informed before any action takes place.
The THAAD system, operated by American personnel in Israel, is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitudes, significantly enhancing Israel’s air defence capabilities. Developed by US defence company Lockheed Martin, the system can counter both short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats.
The escalation follows Iran’s missile strike on October 1, involving around 180 missiles. Iran mentioned that the attack was in retaliation for the assassination of prominent figures, including Ismail Haniyeh, the former chief of Hamas’ political bureau, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and Iranian Revolutionary Guard official Abbas Neelvroushan, in Tehran. The Israeli military confirmed that the missile barrage damaged several of its air bases and announced that preparations for a retaliatory strike on Tehran were underway.
Iran defended its missile launch, citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, which permits the use of force in self-defence after an armed attack.