Tel aviv: Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the United States has completed the deployment of the advanced THAAD and Patriot air defense systems at several US military bases in the Middle East.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the channel stated that the deployment is part of strengthening the US air defense system in the region, against the backdrop of escalating security tensions, without disclosing the number of bases involved or the timeline for its implementation.

It added that the move is part of Washington’s efforts to bolster its military presence in the Middle East, amid rising regional tensions related to the Iranian nuclear program.

The THAAD system is one of the most advanced missile defense systems in the US arsenal. It is designed to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phases, both inside and outside the atmosphere, to protect military bases and vital installations.

The Patriot system is used to intercept missiles and drones at lower altitudes and forms part of the multi-layered air defense system employed by the United States and its allies in the region.