The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps insisted on Thursday that the US anti-missile defense system is not sufficient to protect Israel from Tehran, warning: “We will destroy you.”
Revolutionary Guard Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami warned Israel not to attack Tehran in retaliation for the October 1 ballistic missile attack, saying that even the new Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system could threaten Israel's security and conflict. said victory cannot be secured.
“We should not rely on THAAD. THAAD's capabilities are limited,” Salami said, according to Iranian state media.
“You cannot win this conflict. We will destroy you,” he added.
The Pentagon shipped the THAAD missile defense system earlier this month in response to the Oct. 1 attack by Iran and rising tensions between the Islamic Republic and its proxies.
The THADD system typically consists of six truck-mounted launchers, 49 interceptors, radio and radar equipment, and requires 95 soldiers to operate.
The system would strengthen Israel's defenses, which already have several U.S. destroyers and battleships in the Middle East, and could help fend off further barrage from Iran. These ships previously supported Iranian artillery intercepts in April and October.
Israel has Arrow and David Sling anti-missile systems that can intercept even ballistic missile launches from across its borders, but these systems cannot accept large numbers of rockets like those launched by Iran. Not designed to.
And the more famous Iron Dome system is designed primarily to protect against short-range rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon.
The need for a THAAD system also arises in the situation reportedly facing Israel A shortage of interceptor missiles after enduring more than a year of barrage from Hezbollah and Hamas.
The IDF estimates that Hezbollah and Hamas have fired more than 26,000 rockets and drones across the border since October 7, most of which were repelled by Israeli defense systems.
“Israel's military supply problem is serious,” said Dana Stroll, a former U.S. defense official. financial times newspaper “If Iran responds to Israeli attacks and Hezbollah joins in, Israel's air defenses will be strained.”
