U.S. Lawmakers Unveil a Plan to Shield Middle East Allies From Iranian Aggression

A U.S. plan for integrated air and missile defenses across the Middle East could eventually help countries in the region deter and intercept attacks by Iran and its proxies -- a prospect that might entice Saudi Arabia to deepen ties with Israel. On June 9, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the Deterring Enemy Forces and Enabling National Defenses (DEFEND) Act. The DEFEND Act aims to create an integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) system across U.S. allies and partners in the Middle East, covering Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The legislation would require the U.S. Department of Defense to lead the effort to establish an IAMD system to defend against Iranian and Iranian-backed militia missile, rocket and drone attacks....