The United States is accelerating support for Israel’s air defense infrastructure by sending more naval assets outfitted with missile intercept technology to the region. The move is in response to continuous missile attacks from Iran, which have reportedly placed significant pressure on Israel’s interceptor inventory, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
A new U.S. Navy destroyer has reached the eastern Mediterranean, supplementing three American destroyers already stationed there, along with two others in the Red Sea. These vessels are strategically positioned to help counter missile strikes from Iran, a defense source told The Wall Street Journal.
The ships—Arleigh Burke-class destroyers—are typically equipped with SM-2, SM-3, and SM-6 missiles, capable of intercepting ballistic and aerial threats. The SM-3 system, which was used operationally for the first time during an Iranian assault last year, is specifically built to intercept missiles at higher altitudes.
In addition to strengthening sea-based defenses, the U.S. has restocked interceptors for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. THAAD, which the U.S. Army operates from a base in Israel since last year, is designed to neutralize missiles during their terminal trajectory before impact.
This buildup of missile defense systems by both land and sea illustrates the growing concern in Washington about Israel’s shrinking cache of advanced interceptors. A U.S. official speaking to The Wall Street Journal warned that Israel could run low on its sophisticated Arrow 3 interceptors in the near future if Iranian missile launches continue at the current pace.
Neither Israel Aerospace Industries, which produces the Arrow interceptor series, nor the Israel Defense Forces provided any statements regarding the size of Israel’s remaining stockpile. The military, however, reiterated that it remains fully prepared for any developments.
When asked about the availability of Arrow 3 missiles during an interview with Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, “I would always like more and more.” He also stated that around half of Iran’s missile launch sites had been destroyed by Israeli strikes since the conflict erupted, which he said has reduced the scale of the threat posed by Iranian rockets.
The Wall Street Journal also noted that with American offensive plans against Iran reportedly in a holding pattern, Israel is bearing the brunt of the conflict alone—just as its ability to maintain its missile defense shield is being tested under mounting pressure.
{Matzav.com}