London | Israel has paused its planned ground invasion of Gaza so the US can rush air defence systems to the region that will protect American military bases from the fallout, media reports have said.

The Wall Street Journal quoted US and Israeli officials as saying the US is racing to get air defences onto the ground in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Washington fears Israel’s assault on Gaza will provoke Islamist groups to launch missile and rocket attacks on American troops.