'Don't count on THAAD' for protection: IRGC issues renewed threats to Israel

"Don't count on THAAD. Every time you fire a projectile, we will fire more than you," Salami reportedly said. 

 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Major General, Hossein Salami speaks during the funeral ceremony of senior adviser for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Sayyed Razi Mousavi, who was killed in an Israeli air strike outside the Syrian capital Damascus, in Tehran, Iran December  (photo credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Major General, Hossein Salami speaks during the funeral ceremony of senior adviser for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Sayyed Razi Mousavi, who was killed in an Israeli air strike outside the Syrian capital Damascus, in Tehran, Iran December
(photo credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)

IRGC chief Hossein Salami issued new threats to Israel on Thursday, warning the country not to count on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system for protection, Saudi media site Al-Hadath reported.

The comment came as Iran has been awaiting Israeli retaliation for its aerial attack earlier this month.

The US military rushed the THAAD advanced anti-missile system to Israel, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described it as being "in place" on Monday.

"Don't count on THAAD. Every time you fire a projectile, we will fire more than you," Salami reportedly said. 

Austin declined to say whether the THAAD system was operational. However, he added, "We have the ability to put it into operation very quickly, and we're on pace with our expectations."

The first of two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors is launched during a successful intercept test (credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The first of two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors is launched during a successful intercept test (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

True Promise

Salami stated that Iran's October 1 missile attack on Israel was proof that the THAAD system was incapable of protecting Israel.

This was said despite the fact that the system was not in use in Israel during the time of the October attack.

"The Zionist entity is wrong, and the 'True Promise 2' operation proved the failure of its defense systems. The THAAD system will not succeed in protecting it," he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.