Overview
- Bahrain said an Iranian drone attack damaged one of its desalination plants, while Tehran said a U.S. airstrike on Qeshm island impaired water supplies for roughly 30 villages.
- These incidents remain limited, but analysts caution that expanding attacks on water systems could provoke severe escalation and civilian harm.
- Middle Eastern facilities account for about 42% of global desalination capacity, and national reliance is high, including roughly 90% in Kuwait, 86% in Oman, 70% in Saudi Arabia and 42% in the UAE.
- Desalination plants operate through multi‑stage chains that depend on coastal intakes, treatment systems and stable power, so damage to any link can halt production, experts note.
- Regional authorities have reinforced protection around major plants, including deploying missile defenses and tightening on‑site security and monitoring.