2025 Israel-Iran Conflict

THAAD in the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict

U.S.-operated THAAD batteries in Israel were used as part of the layered missile-defense effort against Iranian ballistic-missile attacks in June 2025.

Weapon profileTHAAD
SideUnited StatesRoleAir DefenseForce Protection
THAAD, Transportable terminal ballistic missile defense system, Air Defense - 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict
Image source: THAAD Deployment [Image 4 of 4]

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
A U.S. THAAD battery and crew were deployed to Israel before the conflict to reinforce air defenses against Iranian ballistic-missile attacks.

Sources: Pentagon THAAD Israel Deployment Statement

THAAD interceptors were launched during the June 2025 Israel-Iran missile-defense campaign.

Sources: FPRI Shallow Ramparts

Reporting attributed to U.S. officials placed THAAD expenditure during the war at more than 150 interceptors.

Sources: The War Zone THAAD Interceptors Report, FPRI Shallow Ramparts

A second public report, citing CNN, gave a lower range of more than 100 and possibly up to 150 THAAD interceptors fired by U.S. forces operating two batteries in Israel.

Sources: Anadolu THAAD Israel-Iran War Report

Timeline

THAAD In 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict

  1. Pentagon announces THAAD deployment to Israel

    The Pentagon said a THAAD battery and associated U.S. military crew were being deployed to Israel to augment Israeli air defenses after Iranian attacks in April and October 2024.

    Sources: Pentagon THAAD Israel Deployment Statement

  2. Iranian missile attacks make missile defense central to the war

    FPRI's later review of the June 2025 war described a U.S. and Israeli missile-defense effort that included THAAD interceptor launches visible in open-source footage.

    Sources: FPRI Shallow Ramparts

  3. Reported THAAD interceptor expenditure

    The War Zone reported, citing U.S. officials through the Wall Street Journal, that U.S. forces fired more than 150 THAAD interceptors during Iran's barrages on Israel.

    Sources: The War Zone THAAD Interceptors Report

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The United States had already deployed a THAAD battery and U.S. crew to Israel before the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict. The Pentagon said the October 2024 deployment was intended to augment Israel's integrated air-defense system against further Iranian ballistic-missile attacks.

During the June 2025 war, THAAD was documented in the active missile-defense fight. FPRI's review of video evidence from Jordan counted 39 THAAD interceptor launches in visible footage and treated that count as a floor, while also citing reporting that more than 150 THAAD interceptors were used during the war. The War Zone separately reported that U.S. forces fired more than 150 THAAD interceptors to defend Israel during Iran's barrages.

Sources: Pentagon THAAD Israel Deployment Statement, FPRI Shallow Ramparts, The War Zone THAAD Interceptors Report

Timeline

The public record shows a prewar U.S. deployment in October 2024, followed by THAAD's combat use during the June 2025 missile-defense campaign. Later reporting differed on exact expenditure totals, but the directly relevant estimates consistently describe U.S. THAAD interceptors being fired in large numbers against Iranian ballistic-missile attacks on Israel.

Sources: Pentagon THAAD Israel Deployment Statement, FPRI Shallow Ramparts, The War Zone THAAD Interceptors Report, Anadolu THAAD Israel-Iran War Report

Narrative

THAAD's role in the conflict was defensive. U.S. crews operating the system contributed to Israel's layered air and missile defenses alongside Israeli Arrow and other interceptors, with the THAAD engagements focused on ballistic missiles rather than short-range rockets or drones.

The system's employment also became a logistics and stockpile issue. FPRI compared the reported use of more than 150 THAAD interceptors with a standard battery load of 48 ready interceptors, and Anadolu cited reports that more than 100 and possibly up to 150 THAAD interceptors were fired by U.S. forces operating two deployed batteries in Israel.

Sources: FPRI Shallow Ramparts, Anadolu THAAD Israel-Iran War Report

Related Weapons by Role

F-35I Adir, Israeli F-35A-derived stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-35I AdirIsraeli F-35A-derived stealth multirole fighterThe F-35I Adir is Israel's locally designated F-35 Lightning II variant, a single-seat stealth multirole fighter operated from Nevatim Air Base and adapted for Israeli Air Force command, sustainment, and weapons-integration needs. Israeli F-35I aircraft have directly documented combat use in Syria, Gaza-war air defense, Lebanon-related Hezbollah operations, and the Israel-Iran conflict, including an official 2026 IDF account of an Adir shooting down an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran.
Barak MX, Integrated air and missile defense system, Air DefenseAir DefenseBarak MXIntegrated air and missile defense systemBarak MX is Israel Aerospace Industries' modular air and missile defense system for land, naval, and mobile deployment, built around networked battle management, radars, launchers, and the Barak SR, MR, LR, and ER interceptor family. Its Israeli Navy configuration is publicly described as Barak Magen on Sa'ar 6 missile ships, where IDF and IAI reporting tied LRAD interceptions to Operation Rising Lion during the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict.
Iranian integrated air-defense system, Integrated air-defense network, Air DefenseAir DefenseIranian integrated air-defense systemIntegrated air-defense networkThe Iranian integrated air-defense system is the national command, radar, and surface-to-air missile network used to defend Iranian airspace and strategic sites. It combines the Khatam al-Anbiya command structure, domestic systems such as Bavar-373 and Khordad-family SAMs, imported Russian S-300 batteries, and older Soviet or Russian equipment. Recent Israel-Iran and United States-Iran conflict reporting treats the network as a fielded but heavily pressured air-defense layer whose radars, command sites, and long-range batteries became major suppression targets.
7 more weapons
Back to THAADBrowse 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict

Sources