‘We will destroy you’: IRGC chief says THAAD air defense system won’t protect Israel from future Iranian strikes

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Hossein Salami warns that an advanced US missile defense system recently stationed in Israel won’t be able to ward off future attacks from Tehran, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

“Just as the Arrow anti-missile systems did not work during Operation True Promise 2, the THAAD systems will not work either. Do not rely on THAAD, they have limited capabilities,” Salami is quoted as saying.

Iran has dubbed its October 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel “Operation True Promise 2,” following its April attack that it called “Operation True Promise 1.”

The Israel Defense Forces said that it intercepted “a large number” of some 181 missiles launched by Iran on October 1 and 99 percent of over 300 projectiles, comprising 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles, and 120 ballistic missiles, fired by Tehran on April 13-14.

The THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, is a critical part of the US military’s layered air defense systems and adds to Israel’s already formidable anti-missile defenses.

“You cannot win this conflict, we will destroy you,” Salami threatens.