Latest from the Middle East: Iran indirectly threatens US forces to operate in Israel

Iran warned the US on Sunday to keep its forces out of Israel.

The comments came from a post on the social platform

Araghchi referred to the possibility that the US could send one of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems to Israel. Any move of one of the systems, known by the acronym THAAD, to Israel would require the deployment of soldiers to operate the complex system.

Israel has expanded its campaign against Hezbollah with waves of heavy airstrikes on Lebanon and a ground invasion on the border after a year of exchanges of fire. Israel is currently at war with Hamas in Gaza and Hamas ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.

According to local health authorities, over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. Authorities did not say how many were militants, but said more than half of those killed were women and children. The war has destroyed large swaths of the Gaza Strip and displaced about 90% of Gaza's 2.3 million residents, often multiple times.

It has been a year since Hamas-led militants blew holes in Israel's security fence and stormed into army bases and farming communities, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping another 250. They still hold about 100 prisoners in Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Here's the latest:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's foreign minister indirectly threatened U.S. forces that may be operating in Israel in an online post on Sunday.

The comments came from a post on the social platform

In the message, Araghchi noted that the United States may send one of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems to Israel. Any move of one of the systems, known by the acronym THAAD, to Israel would require the deployment of soldiers to operate the complex system.

“The US has supplied Israel with a record amount of weapons,” the X-Message said. “It is now also putting the lives of its troops at risk by using them to operate U.S. missile systems in Israel.”

It added: “Although we have made enormous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say clearly that we recognize no red lines in defending our people and our interests.”

Iran's Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the comments carried by Iranian state media.

Israel is widely believed to be planning an attack on Iran following its rocket fire into Israel earlier this month. This is the second direct attack on Israel during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has spread to Lebanon and also involves other Iranian-backed militant groups in the region.

The THAAD is a defense system that shoots down incoming ballistic missiles like the ones Iran fired in its last attack.

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Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell contributed.

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VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Sunday reiterated his call for an “immediate ceasefire” and called for “respect” for U.N. peacekeepers in the region.

“I continue to follow with concern what is happening in the Middle East,” the pope said during his Angelus prayer from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

“Let us take the path of diplomacy and dialogue to achieve peace,” he added, emphasizing that he feels committed to all the peoples involved: Palestine, Israel, Lebanon. He prayed for all the victims, displaced people and hostages and said he hoped they would be released “immediately.”

The Pope wished “that this great and unnecessary suffering caused by hatred and revenge will soon come to an end.”