TEHRAN, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned hotels in Gulf Arab countries against accepting U.S. military personnel, accusing the soldiers of fleeing their bases and using civilian sites as cover.
"From the outset of this war, U.S. soldiers fled military bases in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) to hide in hotels and offices. They use GCC citizens as human shields," Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on social media platform X.
He compared the situation to hotels in the United States, which he claimed deny bookings to officers who may endanger customers, and urged Gulf hotels to adopt the same practice.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East.
Iran's armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi said Thursday that Iran has destroyed 17 U.S. military bases in West Asia since the start of the conflict, according to the official IRNA news agency.
"Americans were forced to flee from their bases. Those who survived took refuge in hotels," Shekarchi said.
He said Iran targeted only specific hotels where U.S. forces were hiding, describing them as U.S. property. Shekarchi also called on regional countries to prevent Americans from entering cities, saying keeping them at their bases would allow Iran to "deal more blows." ■
