America's Military Aid to Israel: A Symbolic Display of Power?

Two American transport aircraft landed in the early hours of October 15th at an airbase in the Negev Desert. Onboard were mobile surface-to-air missile launchers, which were immediately transported to a launch site in southern Israel, accompanied by approximately 100 American soldiers to operate the systems. This latest deployment marks the entry of the USA into a new chapter of military support for Israel, just two days after President Joe Biden issued the order. The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor missiles and their crew is a sign of America's ongoing military support for Israel and simultaneously reflects an attempt to deter Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from escalating into a regional war. The decision apparently came in the wake of an agreement, whereby Israel will adjust its retaliation against Iran following the missile attack on October 1st and refrain from attacks on oil or nuclear sites. From a military perspective, the battery is intended to complement Israel's existing missile defense system, which is poised for further missile attacks from Iran. "This is not a game-changer," says Brigadier General Ran Kochav, a former commander of the Israeli Air Defense Command. However, the system offers an additional layer of defense and increases the number of interceptors available to counter a massive missile barrage. Since the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023, Israel has faced more than 26,000 rockets, rounds, and drones fired from Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. The Israeli defense forces claim to have intercepted nearly 90% of these threats targeting populated areas. However, this success comes at a high cost—a shortage of expensive interceptors forces a focus on defending densely populated areas while evacuating more remote bases. An additional American battery could enable higher protection for more parts of the country. This first ground-based deployment since the start of the current war complements other existing U.S. defense measures. The crew will use a permanently installed American radar system in the Negev Desert, which is capable of detecting missile launches thousands of kilometers away. American troops have been intercepting missiles on Israel’s behalf since October 19, 2023, when an American warship in the Red Sea intercepted a volley fired by the Iran-backed Houthi militia from Yemen toward Israel. The timing of this military support is also significant from a political perspective. After Iran's latest attack with 181 ballistic missiles on October 1st, there were heated discussions between Israel and the USA over the nature of the expected Israeli retaliation. Netanyahu sees a historic opportunity to target Iran’s nuclear program and economic infrastructure, while Biden acts more cautiously to avoid wide-ranging international consequences. Israeli officials view the deployment of the battery as a signal that Netanyahu accepts Biden’s concerns and opts to limit the scope of an imminent attack. An official described this as "golden handcuffs." The USA continues to show its support for Israel, hoping to restrain Netanyahu's impulsive tendencies.