Iran’s military has issued a fresh warning that hotels accommodating United States soldiers across the Middle East could be considered legitimate targets amid the ongoing conflict.
According to armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi, any location sheltering American troops may be treated as a military site.
“When US forces move into hotels, those places are no longer civilian in our view,” he said, stressing that Iran would respond by striking wherever the troops are located.
The warning comes as tensions continue to escalate following the outbreak of war triggered by joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, which killed the country’s supreme leader and sparked a wider regional conflict.
Iran has since launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and US-linked interests across the region.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, accused US forces of abandoning military bases in Gulf countries to take shelter in civilian facilities, describing the move as using civilians as “human shields.”
Reports indicate that Tehran has also sent warnings to hotels, particularly in countries like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, urging them not to host American troops.
Iran further alleges that US personnel are operating from similar locations in Syria, Lebanon, and Djibouti, while accusing neighboring states of enabling attacks—claims those countries have denied.
The situation continues to heighten concerns over a broader regional escalation and risks to civilian infrastructure.