Fars News, Iran's semi-official news agency with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that hotels in the Middle East accommodating US troops will be considered "legitimate military targets". This warning came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused US forces of using local citizens as "human shields" by relocating to civilian hotels and offices.

Araghchi stated on 26/3 that US troops had evacuated their bases in Gulf countries to "hide" within hotels and civilian offices. Fars News further reported that this relocation occurred after "a large number of military bases were destroyed and rendered inoperable" following Iranian retaliatory strikes.

A hotel damaged by a UAV strike in Bahrain on 1/3. Photo: *Anadolu*.

The news agency cited informed sources revealing that Iran has sent warnings to hotels in the region, especially in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), requesting that these establishments do not accommodate US troops. Non-compliant hotels will be considered "legitimate military targets" for Iran.

Fars News later identified specific locations, stating the Four Seasons hotel in Syria's capital, Damascus, is a "deployment point for foreign forces and experts". The Sheraton hotel and the Presidential Palace complex in Damascus are also considered gathering points for "Israeli, US, and British advisors". "Any facility harboring foreign forces, regardless of geographical location, will be added to Iran's list of legitimate targets if such actions do not cease immediately", Fars stated.

The New York Times reported on 25/3, citing unnamed US military personnel and officials, that many troops in the Middle East have had to relocate to hotels and offices after numerous Washington bases sustained damage in Tehran's retaliatory strikes. This situation has forced most US ground forces to engage in "remote work" warfare, with the exception of pilots and aircraft maintenance crews.

Damage at the US 5th Fleet base in Bahrain's capital, Manama, pictured on 1/3. Photo: *Planet Labs*.

Wes Bryant, a former US serviceman and current security analyst, believes this situation will certainly impact operational capabilities. "You can't fit all the equipment into a hotel, as some of it is quite bulky", he stated. US officials have not commented on the matter.

Following an attack attributed to the US and Israel on 28/2, Iran launched a retaliatory campaign, firing missiles and drones at targets across the Middle East, including US troop bases. The Wall Street Journal estimated on 26/3 that Iran's strikes have destroyed or damaged billions of USD worth of US military equipment.

By Pham Giang (Sources: *The New York Times*, Fars, CNN).