Iran Destroys US THAAD Missile System In Middle East, Big Setback For Washington

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has claimed that they destroyed US-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system deployed in the Middle East, according to reports.

What did Iran say?

According to IRGC statement, Iranian forces carried out precision missile strikes targeting the radar unit of the American anti-missile system stationed at a military facility in the region. Tehran said the strike successfully destroyed the radar that helps the THAAD system track incoming missiles.

IRGC also claimed that it has eliminated a second THAAD battery, the world’s most expensive air defense system, in West Asia.

Earlier, Iran claimed to have destroyed the AN/TPY-2 radar component of the THAAD Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) System deployed at Al-Ruwais Industrial City in the United Arab Emirates.

While there has been no confirmation, open-source intelligence reports suggest a hit. The destroyed radar component is estimated to be worth US$500 million.

This is in addition to the US$1.1 billion early warning radar in Qatar, which was hit by an Iranian missile on the first day of the conflict on February 28.

The AN/FPS-132 phased array radar at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was hit by an Iranian ballistic missile. It was built by the US in 2013.

Why is the THAAD system important?

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is one of the United States’ most advanced missile defence platforms. It is designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles during their final phase of flight using a "hit-to-kill" technology rather than explosives.

Is it part of a wider regional escalation?

The development comes amid growing escalation between Iran, the US, and their allies across the Middle East. Iran has launched multiple missile and drone strikes on US-linked military targets in recent days following joint attacks by US and Israel on Iranian territory.