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.

Because large troop movements are also useful for hiding the entrance and exit of special operations.