The THAAD defense system is one of the US military’s most powerful anti-missile weapons, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles at ranges of 150 to 200 kilometers (93 to 124 miles) and with a near-perfect success rate in testing.

U.S. Army leaders say the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery to Israel and roughly 100 soldiers to operate it will add to strains on the Army’s air defense forces.