Iran claims US forces hiding in Gulf hotels, calls them “legitimate targets”

Iran has issued a sweeping warning to hospitality operators across the Middle East, stating that hotels and other civilian venues accommodating US military personnel could be regarded as “legitimate defensive targets” if such practices continue.

Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, citing “informed sources,” reported that facilities being used by US personnel are “not limited” to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. According to the report, quoted by CNN, alternative accommodation sites for foreign forces have also been identified in other parts of the region, including Syria, Lebanon and Djibouti.

The sources quoted by Fars, which is closely associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, described the warning directed at hotel operators as “comprehensive and definitive.” They added that any facility hosting foreign military personnel — “regardless of its geographic location” — would be treated as a legitimate target unless the alleged activity is halted immediately.

Earlier on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that US troops had left military bases in Persian Gulf Arab states that are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council and were staying in hotels and office buildings instead.

“From outset of this war, U.S. soldiers fled military bases in GCC to hide in hotels and offices,” Araghchi wrote, alleging that US forces are using “GCC citizens as human shield.” He also called on hotels across Gulf countries to refuse accommodation to US military personnel.

By Tamilla Hasanova