Historic use of Patriot missiles as US repels Iranian strike, Pentagon confirms

The United States executed the most extensive combat deployment of its Patriot air defence systems in history during a recent operation to repel an Iranian missile strike, said General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Speaking at a press conference at the Pentagon, General Caine confirmed that the unprecedented use of the Patriot systems occurred during a high-alert defensive response in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“We believe this was the most extensive use of Patriot in the history of the U.S. military,” Kaine stated. While he declined to reveal the exact number of missiles launched, citing operational security, he emphasized the scale and urgency of the response.

To bolster air defence capabilities in the region, the US military redeployed Patriot systems from bases in South Korea and Japan, ensuring that the most advanced equipment was in place at strategic CENTCOM locations. According to Caine, at the time of the Iranian assault, only two Patriot batteries and approximately 44 US personnel were stationed at the targeted base.

Caine also disclosed that on the morning of June 23, US intelligence began detecting credible indicators of an impending Iranian attack on American military installations in the region. This early warning enabled a rapid defensive posture and likely mitigated the impact of the strike.

By Vafa Guliyeva