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USFK's Thaad interceptors likely to be routed to Middle East: Sources

Published: 11 Mar. 2026, 18:51

A U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery is seen in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang, on March 5. [YONHAP]

Interceptors for a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) U.S. antimissile system are likely to be relocated to the Middle East soon amid the Iran war, sources said Wednesday.

One Thaad battery, designed to shoot down a ballistic missile at altitudes of 40 to 150 kilometers (25 to 93 miles) in its terminal phase of flight, had been deployed in Seongju, some 215 km southeast of Seoul, to better counteract North Korea's military threats.

Six truck-mounted Thaad launchers, which recently moved to Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 60 km south of Seoul, returned to Seongju after unloading interceptor missiles at the air base, according to the sources.

A launcher vehicle is capable of carrying up to eight interceptors. If all of the six launchers were at full capacity, a total of 48 interceptors could have remained at Osan Air Base.

The intercepting missiles are likely to be moved to the Middle East soon via U.S. transport aircraft, according to the sources.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the Pentagon was moving parts of the Thaad system from South Korea to the Middle East amid the intensifying war in Iran.

Speculation has arisen that the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) moved some of its Patriot missile defense batteries deployed in South Korea to the Middle East though South Korea's military. The USFK declined to confirm.

President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday a potential relocation of the USFK's military assets will not affect the country's deterrence posture against North Korea.

Yonhap