From data centers in the Gulf area to water desalination plants, the worst-case scenario is now unfolding in the Middle East conflict, with no boundaries regarding civilian infrastructure.
We warned earlier last week, after correctly predicting that data centers would be targeted, that water desalination plants would be next (see the previous update).
Al Jazeera reports that after Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi claimed the US targeted a water desalination plant in Iran, an IRGC kamikaze drone then targeted a desalination plant in Bahrain.
Al Jazeera also outlined the importance of water desalination plants to the Gulf region:
- GCC states hold about 60% of global desalination capacity and produce around 40% of the world’s desalinated water through more than 400 plants.
- Most GCC countries rely heavily on desalination: 90% of Kuwait’s drinking water, 86% in Oman, 70% in Saudi Arabia, and 42% in the UAE.
- Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest producer, with capacity projected to reach 8.5 million cubic meters per day by 2025 after $80 billion in investments.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior wrote on X, “The Iranian aggression randomly bombs civilian targets and causes material damage to a water desalination plant following an attack by a drone.”
Bahrain says an Iranian strike damaged a desalination plant, marking a new phase of the conflict targeting water infrastructure.
— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 8, 2026
Gulf countries rely heavily on desalination.
Qatar nearly 100%, Kuwait and Bahrain ~90%, Oman 86%, Saudi Arabia 70%.
The strike came after… pic.twitter.com/XgEJ0M6YR3
