Seoul: US Patriot missile defense batteries have returned to South Korea after deployment in the Middle East. US Forces Korea (USFK) announced that troops from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment arrived back in South Korea following their assignment to the US Central Command area of responsibility, where they had been stationed since March.

According to Anadolu Agency, around 500 personnel and artillery units at the battalion level returned on October 30. In August, USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson had indicated that Patriot batteries, which had previously been shifted to the Middle East, were set to return to South Korea to receive the latest equipment upgrades.

South Korea is recognized as one of Washington's longest-standing military allies, hosting more than 28,500 US troops along with Patriot missile batteries and other defense systems. The South Korean military currently operates a domestically produced medium-range surface-to-air missile system and the US Patriot Advanced Capability-3 system, which is designed to intercept missiles at lower altitudes compared to the L-SAM.

For threats at higher altitudes, South Korea depends on the USFK-operated Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, which offers upper-tier interception at altitudes ranging from 40 to 150 kilometers.