Iran’s military has warned that hotels hosting US soldiers in the Middle East would be considered legitimate targets amid its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.
Armed Forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi told state television on Thursday, “When all the Americans go into a hotel, then 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 warnings come weeks after Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, resulting in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a broader regional conflict. Since then, Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting both US and Israeli interests across the Middle East.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, accused US soldiers of using civilians in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as “human shields.” He said US forces fled military bases to hide in hotels and offices, urging hotels in the region to deny them bookings.
According to the Fars news agency, Iran has issued warnings to hotels in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and has identified similar locations used by US forces in Syria, Lebanon, and Djibouti. Iran has also accused neighbouring states of facilitating US operations, claims which Gulf governments have repeatedly denied, insisting their territories and airspace are not being used to attack Iran.
