Iran threatens to target desalination plants after strikes on water and energy infrastructure
The Facts
- Iran has threatened to target desalination plants and other infrastructure in the Gulf region if its own energy infrastructure is attacked.
- The Iranian warning followed a threat by U.S. President Donald Trump to destroy Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened.
- Reports in the source pool say attacks on water systems are uncommon in wartime, but they have now appeared in the Middle East conflict.
- A desalination plant in Bahrain was damaged in a drone attack, according to authorities cited by multiple outlets.
- Iran said a strike on Qeshm had affected water supplies for 30 villages, according to multiple reports.
- Gulf countries depend heavily on desalination for municipal water, with Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates among the most dependent states cited in the reports.
- The source pool says desalination is a major part of water security in the Gulf because the region has very limited natural freshwater resources.
Context
Why are desalination plants such a sensitive target in the Gulf?
Because many Gulf states rely on them for most of their drinking water, and the region has very limited renewable freshwater resources El Observador,RFI,News24. Several reports say the plants are central to daily life and economic activity, so damage to them could quickly disrupt civilian water supplies Fanack Water,Guardian.
What specific attacks are mentioned in the reports?
The source pool cites a drone attack that damaged a desalination plant in Bahrain and Iranian claims that a strike on Qeshm affected water service in 30 villages Guardian,Boursorama,RTBF,LaProvence.com,Listin diario,TF1 INFO.
How widespread is desalination in the Gulf?
The reports say Kuwait gets about 90% of its municipal water from desalination, Oman about 86%, Saudi Arabia about 70%, and the UAE about 42% El Observador,RFI,Listin diario. One source also says the Gulf region has more than 400 desalination plants and produced about 68 million cubic meters of water daily in 2022 News24.
The receipts — all 26 sources
Wire services (1)
Independent coverage (25)
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