Gulf hotels sheltering US troops could become targets, Iran warns

Iran has warned that hotels in Gulf nations could become targets if they shelter United States troops displaced by recent strikes on American military bases in the region, according to reports.

The warning was directed at hotel operators in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, after multiple US bases were reportedly rendered unusable, forcing personnel to seek refuge in civilian locations.

Iranian military spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said any site housing US forces could be treated as a legitimate target. “When all the Americans go into a hotel, then from our perspective that hotel becomes American,” he said, adding that Iran would respond to attacks by striking wherever US forces are located.

The warning follows remarks by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who urged Gulf hotels not to host US troops, accusing Washington of using civilians as “human shields.”

The escalation comes amid a widening regional conflict that began after US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which Tehran says killed its top leadership. In retaliation, Iran has targeted US military facilities and key infrastructure across the Middle East.

Reports indicate that several US bases in countries including Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been hit, prompting the relocation of American personnel to hotels across the region and, in some cases, to Europe.

Iran has also reportedly issued warnings regarding locations in Syria, Lebanon and Djibouti where US troops may be present.

Separately, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has called on civilians in Gulf countries to report the whereabouts of US personnel, urging them to share information through messaging platforms.