US soldiers deployed to help fend off Iran missiles

A team of U.S. soldiers has arrived in Israel to help operate the advanced anti-missile battery provided by President Joe Biden to help Israel fend off missile attacks from Iran amid increasing concerns surrounding the expanding Middle East conflict.

The Pentagon said Tuesday that the first of what will ultimately be about 100 U.S. troops have arrived along with some components of the system. It marks the first U.S. deployment of troops in Israel since the Hamas-led attacks a year ago that ignited the war in Gaza and reflects the ominous expansion of the conflict.

Major Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, said in a statement that some components of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery system arrived Sunday and that more were on the way. "Over the coming days, additional U.S. military personnel and THAAD battery components will continue to arrive in Israel," Ryder said.