The US has transferred a second THAAD battery to Israel amid rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.

Axar.az informs that The Saudi Al-Hadath channel reported this.

Flight tracking websites showed that an American C-5M Super Galaxy, the US Air Force’s largest transport plane, landed at the Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel and remained there for around eight hours before taking off again.

The THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System, is an advanced anti-missile system.

The first THAAD battery was rushed to Israel last year, and around 100 US troops are thought to be deployed to operate the system, which is considered complementary to the Patriot system but can defend a wider area, capable of hitting targets at ranges of 150-200 kilometers (93-124 miles).