America is understood to have delivered an advanced missile defence system to Israel ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington to discuss attacking Iran.

Flight-tracking websites showed a C-5M Super Galaxy, the US’s largest transport aircraft and capable of carrying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) system, land at Nevatim airbase in southern Israel on Saturday and wait about eight hours before leaving.

US media reported last month that defence officials had approved moving the system to the Middle East. If confirmed, it would mark the second Thaad system sent to Israel by America, the first having been put in place last year.

It comes amid a rush of US military assets to the Middle East amid hostile rhetoric on Tehran from the White House. One carrier strike group is already operating in the region, while another is en route from Asia.