According to a report by the Times of Israel on Sunday 1 February, 2026, the United States is quietly reinforcing air defense systems across the Middle East, a move that suggests any American strike on Iran is not about to happen, at least for now. That’s according to a Wall Street Journal report, which cited US officials familiar with the deployments.
The Pentagon, the report says, is in the process of relocating advanced systems, including THAAD and Patriot batteries, to bases where American troops are stationed throughout the region. The goal is defensive rather than offensive: strengthening protection for Israel as well as several Arab partners, should Iran or its proxies decide to escalate.
Those layers of air defense have already proven their worth. During the 12-day conflict with Iran in 2025, as well as two earlier rounds of Iranian missile and drone attacks in 2024, US-operated systems worked alongside Israel’s own defenses to blunt incoming fire. Without that cooperation, officials have said in the past, the damage could have been far worse.
And yet, behind the scenes, there has also been diplomatic caution. Just last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged US President Donald Trump to hold off on any potential American strike against Iran. That request was first reported by The New York Times, which cited a senior US official briefed on the discussions.
The White House later acknowledged that the two leaders had spoken by phone. No details were released, and officials declined to say how the conversation may have shaped US military planning.
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