On June 14, 2025, video footage appeared on social media and Telegram channels that allegedly showed the interception of an Iranian ballistic missile by the American THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense system outside the earth's atmosphere over Israeli territory. The interception occurred on the night of June 13-14 during Iran's massive attack as part of Operation True Promise 3, a response to Israel's Operation Rising Lion.

The THAAD system, deployed in Israel in October 2024 at the direction of US President Joe Biden, was first used to intercept an Iranian missile, believed to be a Khorramshahr-class missile with a range of up to 2000 km. According to The Times of Israel, the USS Thomas Hudner in the Mediterranean also helped repel the attack, shooting down several Iranian missiles. THAAD, developed by Lockheed Martin, uses kinetic interception, destroying targets with impact energy at altitudes of 30-150 km, making it unique for exoatmospheric defense.

The Iranian attack followed Israeli strikes on June 13 on nuclear facilities in Natanz and Isfahan, as well as military bases, which killed IRGC commander Hossein Salami and chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri. According to the Fars news agency, Iran launched about 200 ballistic missiles and drones, most of which the IDF said were intercepted by Iron Dome, David's Sling and THAAD systems. However, several missiles hit Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, wounding 40 people. Iran claims it hit Nevatim air base, but Israel denies this.

Footage of the intercept, showing a bright flash and debris flying across the night sky, demonstrates the effectiveness of THAAD, although the IDF has not specified which system shot down the missile. Analysis, according to Reuters, should confirm the role of THAAD. The system previously successfully intercepted a Houthi missile from Yemen on December 27, 2024, marking its first combat use in Israel.