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.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
trumpstein is trolling the world with these kushner witkoff assholes. this is fake charades. wake up. ussa is a collapsing empire, they have no mission any more. but threatening the world like a jealous lover who find out his mistress left him. poor amerikunts, world is turning away from them
make extra profit every week… this is a great part-time job for everyone… best part about it is that you can work from your home and earn from 100-2000 dollars each week … start today and have your first payment at the end of the week.
.…………………………… https://psee.io/8jqu9r
due to the epstein files: there will be more exceeding pressure to start world war 3 by the neo-feudal banker corporatocracy (as people become more aware of just how insidious and evil their overlords are.)
go and read the stories on the peoples voice tv right now . you will see who’s threatened . it’s only one step back in time to tie charles to his confidante sir jimmy saville the renowned pedophile of disabled sick dying children and rumoured necrophiliac , knighted by the pope.
when andrew was first reported as being in with epstein i said then that they will roll out something huge now to try to cover that up , and i said like a plague and when that fades they will introduce a really long drawn out war . which is exactly what they’ve done .
totally true and confirmed
youre trolling trump .with your ramses narrative amd your has been names.
jordan must obey or take bats to go after every rat they can, to feed their rotten families
the ussa has been cucked!! nothing but circle jerks left for them!
u.s. talks: let us hit a couple of not so important sites and you can retaliate at a few not so important sites and we’ll call it even. iran said no. these are the real talks. the u.s. says they are going well, the iranians say it’s the same old shit. trump is clearly playing for time and an attack window. at least he hasn’t got all his carriers where they will be sunk. i imagine there are more subs this time than last time.