U.S. Deploys Its Latest Anti-Missile System In Jordan As It Prepares To Attack Iran

The U.S. army unloads a THAAD missile defense system in Israel, March 2019. (U.S. Army Europe)

The United States military has deployed a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system to Jordan, in another sign that an attack on Iran could be just around the corner.

The system was spotted at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in central-eastern Jordan in satellite images from China’s MizarVision, which surfaced online on February 9.

The THAAD was designed to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase by intercepting with a hit-to-kill approach.

The system can engage missiles at ranges of 150-200 kilometers. Typically, each system consists of six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, radio and radar equipment, and requires 95 soldiers to operate. The U.S. military reportedly has seven systems in service, each with a cost of upwards $1.8 billion.

THAAD systems deployed in Israel and other parts of the Middle East played a key role in repelling Iranian missile attacks during the 12-day June war last year.

Click to see full-size image. (MizarVision)

The deployment of the system in Jordan is a part of a wider U.S. military buildup in the region that began last month after repeated threats by President Donlad Trump to Iran over a deadly wave of protests and alleged plans to execute prisoners.

Muwaffaq Salti Air Base has been at the center of this military buildup. More than 3,000 U.S. troops are typically deployed at air bases, which the U.S. military has been working to develop for the last few years.

Around 50 warplanes, including F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets, and MQ-9 Reaper combat drones, appeared in the base in recent weeks.

At the start of the month, U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal that the Pentagon is deploying an additional THAAD system and more MIM-104 Patriot long-range air defense systems to locations where American troops are stationed, including Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi assured his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi earlier this month that the kingdom will not allow its territory or airspace to be used to launch attacks on the Islamic Republic.

While the THAAD is a purely defensive system, other military assets the U.S. deployed recently at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base are clearly not.

Senior U..S. officials, including Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, held indirect talks with Araghchi in Oman on February 6. The talks were reportedly positive. However, it was limited to the nuclear issue, and no real progress was made. In fact, the two sides are yet to set a date for the next round of talks.

The U.S. is clearly gearing up to attack, and Iran is very clear on the fact that it will not compromise on key issues, like its missile program and its regional relations. Thus, war seems way more likely than a deal.

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