Iran’s military has issued a warning that hotels housing U.S. forces in the Middle East could become legitimate targets amid escalating tensions with the United States and Israel.
Armed Forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi told state television on Thursday, “When all the Americans go into a hotel, from our perspective that hotel becomes American. Should we just stand by and let the Americans strike us? When we respond, naturally we have to strike wherever they are.”
The remarks come in the wake of the February 28 strikes by Israel and the U.S., which killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and ignited a broader regional conflict. Since then, Iran has carried out drone and missile attacks against U.S. and Israeli interests across the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also accused U.S. forces of using civilians in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as “human shields,” claiming that American soldiers have been relocating from military bases to hotels and offices in the region. He urged hotels in Gulf states to deny bookings to U.S. personnel.
According to the Fars News Agency, Iran has sent “firm warnings” to hotels in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, while monitoring similar arrangements in Syria, Lebanon, and Djibouti.
Gulf states, however, have consistently denied claims that they allow U.S. forces to launch attacks against Iran from their territory or airspace, emphasizing their commitment to regional neutrality even prior to the conflict.
This development marks a significant escalation, raising concerns over the safety of civilian infrastructure amid the ongoing hostilities.
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