March 12, 2026

Just over 10 days after Middle East tensions flared, the Pentagon is reportedly moving parts of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system from South Korea to the region, due to the intensifying war in Iran. A Chinese military affairs expert said that this move lays bare the fact that the system previously deployed in the Middle East has become so ineffective that it must be redeployed from the other region. These assets cannot adequately secure US bases, let alone defend its allies, the expert added.

This remark follows a Washington Post report, citing two officials, saying that the Pentagon is moving parts of a THAAD system from South Korea to the Middle East, as the US burned through $5.6 billion worth of munitions during the first two days of its military assault on Iran.

The reason for this redeployment is that the THAAD units deployed in the Middle East, especially radar systems, have been attacked and suffered serious combat losses, Song Zhongping, a military affairs expert, told the Global Times. The THAAD is designed not only to intercept ballistic missiles but also to provide critical early warning for Israel and US forces, and relocating such system from South Korea to the Middle East is intended to strengthen this early warning capability.

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https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1356818.shtml