From oil and missiles, the conflict betweenIran, Israel, and the US has escalated to water. Desalination plants, which purify water, are being attacked.

The US recently struck Iran’swater plant on Qeshm Island, leaving 30 villages without water. In response, Iran targeted a water desalination plant in Bahrain for the first time.

Security experts say these plants are lifelines for the region, and attacks on them could be dangerous for everyone. If these plants are damaged, hit by cyberattacks, or the water is contaminated, it’s not just an economic loss—it could create a serious human security crisis across the Gulf.

If these plants are harmed, daily life in cities could come to a halt. So, what are water desalination plants, and why are they so important in this region? How could attacks make things worse?

From Iran to the Gulf countries, desalinationplantsare used to make seawater drinkable. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman are among the world’s driest places, with limited natural water sources. GCC countries produce about 40% of the world’s desalinated water, with over 400 plants operating in the region.

In many countries, most drinking water comes from this technology.

For example, Qatar gets 100% of its drinking water from desalination, Kuwait about 90%, Bahrain 90%, Oman 86%, Saudi Arabia 70% (with cities like Riyadh relying up to 90%), and the UAE about 42%, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi depending even more. The Gulf is extremely hot and gets very little rain. With fast-growing populations, underground water sources are running out. Desalination isn’t just a technology—it’s a basic need for society.

An attack on water could cause a disaster. Oil shocks can be managed to some extent, but there’s no quick fix for water. If water supply stops in big cities, a crisis could develop in just a few days. Water isn’t just infrastructure or a technical facility—it’s tied to the country’s survival. Experts believe that if water systems are targeted in war, the impact could be bigger than oil.

According to a leaked US diplomatic document from 2008, more than 90% of Riyadh’s drinking water comes from the Jubail desalination plant. If this plant is destroyed, thecapitalmight have to be evacuated within a week. Qatar’s Prime Minister warned last year that if Iran’s nuclear sites are attacked and seawater gets contaminated, life in Qatar, UAE, and Kuwait could be at risk. Qatar estimated it would have only three days of drinking water left in such a situation, so it built 15 large water reservoirs to keep supplies going in emergencies.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the US attack on Qeshm Island’s desalination plant a “heinous and desperate crime," saying it cut off water to about 30 villages and was a dangerous step with serious consequences. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired missiles at the US military base Al-Jafair in Bahrain, claiming it was a measured response to the US attack on Qeshm Island’s water infrastructure. The IRGC said their missile operation was a “calculated countermeasure" to defend critical civilian infrastructure. Without these water plants, Gulf countries could face a water crisis.

Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News