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The United States is sending an advanced anti-missile system to Israel as it continues to wage a war on multiple fronts against Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel also faces the threat of a missile attack from Iran, which recently fired nearly 200 rockets in retaliation for alleged attacks within Iran and Israel's continued attacks on targets in Lebanon.
The Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) consists of six truck-mounted launchers that are each equipped with eight interceptors. An advanced radar system allows the rockets to intercept ballistic missiles from about 125 miles away.
The U.S. will also send around 100 U.S. troops to operate the missile system.
Israeli officials said the addition of THAAD will provide additional protection from future Iranian attacks.
"We found our defense forces stretching from south to north, from east to west, dealing simultaneously with UAVS, with cruise missiles, rocket, and missiles," retired Brigadier General Zvika Haimovich, former head of the Israeli Air Defense, told NBC News.
"You always need more power," Haimovich explained. "We try to predict the future that the Iranians will use again this method of big salvos, even bigger than these 200 missiles."
"We are not prepared enough for situation and the fact is that our enemies recognize that," he added.