'The Terminal High Altitude Area Defence System (THAAD) is said to be the latest addition to Israel's arsenal'
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00:00It's regarded as one of the most advanced missile defence systems in the world.
00:06The Terminal High Altitude Area Defence System, or THAAD, is said to be the latest addition
00:11to Israel's arsenal, courtesy of its top ally, the United States.
00:16Why did you decide to give permission for the THAAD to be deployed in Israel?
00:21To defend Israel.
00:23Any worries about it?
00:25THAAD is made up of at least six truck-mounted launchers that can each hold up to eight
00:29interceptors.
00:31The system is able to detect incoming attacks with its powerful radar and in turn destroy
00:35short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
00:40Along with Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling, THAAD adds an extra layer of protection
00:44for the country as it prepares what it says will be a precise and powerful retaliation
00:49for Iran's ballistic missile attack on October 1st.
00:53Our attack will be lethal, precise and above all, surprising.
00:57They will not understand what happened and how it happened.
01:01They will see the results.
01:05October's barrage as well as Sunday's deadly Hezbollah drone attack on Ben Yamina exposed
01:09some of the weaknesses in Israel's air defences.
01:13Its most well-known shield, the Iron Dome, can only intercept rockets at ranges of between
01:174 kilometres to 70 kilometres, while THAAD can acquire targets at ranges of up to 200
01:23kilometres.
01:24Washington also says it will send approximately 100 soldiers to operate THAAD within Israel.
01:29For analysts, the move risks dragging the US into a war it doesn't want to be directly
01:34involved in.
01:35Iran for its part says it does not seek war, but its foreign minister warned that the deployment
01:40puts the lives of US troops at risk.
01:43As Israel mulls a response to Tehran, Washington has warned it against striking Iran's nuclear
01:48sites, saying it would be a major escalation.