Iran’s military has warned that hotels accommodating United States soldiers across the Middle East could be treated as legitimate targets amid its escalating conflict with the US and Israel.
Speaking on state television, armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi said any civilian facility housing American forces would be viewed as a military site.
“When all the Americans (forces) go into a hotel, then from our perspective that hotel becomes American,” Shekarchi stated.
He added that Iran would not hesitate to retaliate against US forces wherever they are located.
“Should we just stand by and let the Americans strike us? When we respond, naturally we have to strike wherever they are,” he said.
The warning comes after a dramatic escalation last month when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, reportedly killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The development triggered a broader regional conflict.
Since then, Iran has responded with waves of drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and US-linked interests, intensifying instability across the Middle East.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused US troops of embedding themselves within civilian infrastructure in Gulf countries, alleging the use of human shields.
“From the outset of this war, US soldiers fled military bases in the GCC to hide in hotels and offices,” Araghchi wrote on X.
He urged hotels across the region to deny accommodation to American personnel.
According to the Fars News Agency, Iran has issued “firm warnings” to hotels, particularly in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
The report added that Iranian intelligence had identified similar movements of US personnel in Syria, Lebanon, and Djibouti.
Iran has repeatedly accused neighbouring Gulf countries of allowing US forces to launch attacks from their territories. However, members of the Gulf Cooperation Council have denied the claims.
Gulf states maintain that they have not permitted their land or airspace to be used for military operations against Iran, reiterating their stance both before and after the outbreak of the conflict.
