Joe Biden is considering sending American troops to operate a missile defence system in Israel as the country prepares for an exchange of attacks with Iran.

The Pentagon has reportedly discussed deploying a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) missile battery, which could be used to intercept Iranian missiles, and would be operated by US military personnel.

It comes as Washington prepares for Israel’s response to Iran’s missile attack of Oct 1, which is expected within days and could include a missile strike on military facilities in Iran.

Israel’s retaliation is expected to provoke a counter-strike from Iran – a deadly exchange of missiles that threatens to escalate the conflict towards a wider regional war.

A THAAD battery would be operated by American forces on the ground, marking the first time that US troops have been deployed in combat in Israel during the current crisis.

American troops have already been deployed in Gaza to build a “pier” for the delivery of humanitarian aid, on US Navy ships in the Mediterranean and to man air defences from neighbouring Iraq and Syria.