Iran Threatens U.S. Troops in Israel

The Islamic Republic has issued a threat to U.S. troops deployed to defend Israel, warning that their lives are “at risk."

This comes after the Pentagon's confirmation on Sunday that it would send personnel to operate a missile defense battery in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued the warning amidst reports of the U.S. deploying a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile battery and its operators to Israel in response to ongoing missile threats.

"The U.S. has been delivering a record amount of arms to Israel. It is now also putting the lives of its troops at risk by deploying them in Israel," Araghchi said. 

"While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I want to make it clear that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests," he added. 

The Islamic Republic fired around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel last week in response to the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, and of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate against Iran for the missile attacks. Several Iranian officials have since threatened Israel against responding to the strikes, raising fears of a further escalation in tensions between the two countries.

Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, emphasized that the battery “underscores the United States' ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel." He added, “It is part of the broader adjustments the U.S. military has made in recent months to support Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-aligned militias.”