After a Hezbollah drone killed four Israeli soldiers during a missile barrage, the Biden-Harris administration has agreed to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to Israel, to provide support to the nation’s sorely taxed defensive capabilities. The catch? Approximately 100 U.S. soldiers will deploy to Israel to operate the system. “I’m not surprised that they’re sending the defensive system,” said Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) on Monday’s “Washington Watch.” “But I am surprised that we’re sending American servicemembers.”

Given the ongoing aerial bombardment Israel is facing, more missile defense capabilities make sense. “You never know everything that your enemy might have at their disposal,” Perry explained. So, out of “an abundance of caution, you just make sure that you’re prepared for any eventuality.” In that sense, “I’m happy that we’re providing Israel the defensive equipment, munitions, etc.,” he said.

But sending U.S. soldiers to operate the THAAD system makes far less sense. “I don’t know why American servicemembers need to be on the ground there in the combat zone,” exclaimed Perry. “Are you telling me that we can’t train the Israeli soldiers on this weapon system pretty rapidly? Because I’m pretty sure that we can.”

“I am concerned with us sending American servicemembers over there,” continued Perry. “There was a strike, I think, overnight [Sunday] that killed some Israeli soldiers. What’s going to happen when those are American soldiers? … America is going to be drawn more into this war unnecessarily.”

Iran-backed jihadist militias have already demonstrated their willingness and capabilities to attack American soldiers in the Middle East. Within a month of October 7, Islamist militias had launched more than a dozen attacks at U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria. In January, a drone attack killed three U.S. soldiers at a desert outpost. Those attacks were carried out by smaller, less influential groups.

Perry suggested that the Biden-Harris administration “miscalculated” because they were “prepared for what Hezbollah and Iran and … Israel is dishing out,” so their actions are purely reactive. “Quite honestly, I think they’re looking at November in about two and a half to three weeks,” he said, “and they’re saying, ‘Oh my goodness, we’re losing the pro-Israel vote. We’ve got to at least signal that we’re on their side.’”

But such a signal would be disingenuous, Perry continued. “The United States is on both sides of this war under the Harris-Biden administration,” he said. “While we’re absolutely giving some munitions and providing some of the equipment that Israel needs, we’re also holding back munitions. We’re holding back critical intelligence. … We’re literally funding their enemy through Iran.” Even in “the aid package that was for Israel and Ukraine,” the administration “sent $9 billion to Gaza to be administered by Hamas,” he added.

“How do you send American servicemembers over there when you’re funding the enemy?” asked Perry. “It is unconscionable. It is unacceptable. We ought to pick a side. That side should be Israel.”

Even more than that, Perry suggested the U.S. should not be sending troops into Israel at all. “The United States can be a great supporter without losing American lives and getting caught in that quagmire,” he proposed. “Just stop funding Iran. Let Israel do its job.”