Image: keystone
Several locations of the US missile defense system THAAD are said to have been damaged in Iranian retaliatory strikes after the US-Israeli air strikes. Satellite images show damage in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
March 7, 2026, 4:18 p.mMarch 7, 2026, 4:18 p.m
What does THAAD mean?
THAAD stands for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and is a US air defense system to combat ballistic missiles. In contrast to other systems such as the Patriot air defense missiles, THAAD can detect and engage incoming missiles at altitudes of up to approximately 150 kilometers. This makes it possible to partially intercept missiles outside the atmosphere. The interceptor missiles do not have a classic warhead. Instead, they destroy their target through a direct impact at high speed. (lyn)
Image: EPA/US DOD/MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY
After the US-Israeli air strikes last Saturday, Iran responded with missile and drone attacks. US missile defense systems are also said to have been targeted.
Like the US broadcaster CNN Citing satellite images, an AN/TPY-2 radar system from a THAAD battery was hit in Jordan. The radar system is a central component of the facility as it can detect ballistic missiles early. A US official confirmed according to Indian broadcaster NDTV later the destruction of the facility.
In the United Arab Emirates, two locations were also damaged in a suspected precision attack, which, according to CNN, are also home to the system’s radar systems.
Satellite images from Airbus also show smoke over a THAAD facility near Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia and debris around the site.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal The US military is already working to replace the damaged system in Jordan. In total, the US only has eight THAAD batteries worldwide. If several facilities were actually damaged, this could at least temporarily weaken the region’s missile defenses.
It is unclear which of the affected systems belong to which country. The USA has not yet officially commented on the reported damage in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. However, the US military emphasized to the Wall Street Journal that it still had “full combat capability”.
The warning times in Israel may also show how important the facilities are for defense. A journalist from the Times of Israel reportedthat the advance warning time for recent rocket attacks was sometimes only one to three minutes. In previous attacks it was often four to eight minutes. (lyn)