Because large troop movements are also useful for hiding the entrance and exit of special operations.
As I understand it is to operate the defensive missile battery they have just shipped.
This is the true answer.
The defense systems being sent there are not only highly advanced, but are also extremely expensive to the taxpayer, as well as the training to operate them is compartmentalized under high levels of secrecy even against allies such as Israel.
It would be irresponsible for the military to send it over there without the proper personnel with the right clearances and training to operate it.
If you don't believe me, try joining the military and attempt to become a Patriot Missile Battery operator and let us know how it goes with the many times your background check fails.
You're not wrong, but the question then becomes "why did the US send an advanced military defence system that needs a hundred highly trained American operatives to work".
I'm guessing the reason is a combination of politics (lots of American politicians with ties to Israel) and practical reasons (validate that these systems still work against the enemies of the state without actually getting involved in a war directly, perform analysis for future improvements for defence on home soil, get people behind Israeli lines to extract intelligence that might not be shared willingly).
Well no comment on the politics but the system is required to intercept the types of ballistic missiles they expect.
The US has decided it wants those missiles intercepted, so this is what it takes.
The US has decided it wants those missiles intercepted,
Assuming the weapons system and personnel in question are used exclusively for missile intercept, then this deployment can be seen as an attempt to reduce further escalation of the ongoing conflict.
Well it's an explicitly defensive system.
That said, if it's use allows Israel to be more brazen, then it's all zero sum.
Well it's an explicitly defensive system.
Yes, that's what it is named. Government and military projects don't always have the most transparent naming conventions, though.
Do we know that it isn't capable of acting in an offensive capacity as well, should those in control of it choose?
The system is incredibly expensive and purpose built.
There's no smoke and mirrors, the US is providing much, much cheaper offensive weapons. There's be no need to wire up a defensive system for that.
As context, many defensive missiles are pretty low payload, and often (but not always) use a shotgun style blast to hit the intended target. That's not well suited to ground to ground work, especially when trying to target hardened structures like concrete buildings.
It's just not the right tool.
EDIT Not sure why you're all downvoting. The government did literally lie to all of us about Iraqi WMD's, so I'm not sure why you'd think aren't lying about deploying troops to Israel.
I mean, we're being told that's why it is. We were also once told we had to fight Iraqis because they had nukes.
I don't think any of us really knows what's happening there.
It's important not to let cynicism become conspiratorial ideation. This is not a ploy to get troops killed as a rationale for American involvement. This is a defensive anti-missile anti-drone anti-aircraft battery. The soldiers operating it may be the safest people in Israel, at least from Iranian attack.
I'd go further and speculate that Iran would avoid deliberately attacking this high value target to avoid escalation. I'd go further still and speculate that Iran is counting on her missiles being shot down so that she can attack Israel without doing enough damage to spark a wider war.
I don't count Iran as peaceniks, their behavior so far looks like a Nation keen to save face, while avoiding a war it's not ready for.
The real rational for sending troops is that there is no time to train up IDF soldiers to operate it.
Yeah it's nice Iran kills them the regime can justify a war with them...
The same reason why Ukraine doesn't get them.
To be clear, there are US service people within Ukraine but they take great care to ensure Russians don't hit them and Russians really don't want to hit them either
When one country sends soldiers to a different country but not very many, it could mean a few things.
One it's a symbolic gesture.
Two with your own troops on the ground, if they become attacked, you now have an excuse to get fully involved. It's the pathway from advisors to interventions. In some circumstances this can also cause the enemy to become hesitant to attack areas with known foreign presence
Three gathering intelligence from your own people, gives you a higher degree of situational awareness on the ground.
Four weapons research and development, sending a technical advisors, and observers, to an actual combat situation can give you valuable feedback on methodologies, doctrine, and weapons application.
Five: Special operations teams can use them as cover for movement.
Sending enough Americans to justify a full Iranian engagement when they are killed.
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