RIYADH: The ongoing war in the region is drawing critical infrastructure into the line of fire, and the targeting of desalination facilities has sparked concerns regarding security and long-term sustainability of the region’s water supply.
With an Iranian drone striking a desalination plant in Bahrain on March 8, and Iran saying the US targeted another such facility on Qeshm Island the previous day, a vulnerability was exposed that Middle Eastern nations have spent decades trying to secure.
The attacks, which disrupted water supplies for 30 villages in Iran and caused material damage in Bahrain, highlighted a critical reality for the Middle East and North Africa.
According to the World Bank, the region accounts for more than 53 percent of the global desalination capacity, making it an essential requirement for survival rather than just an infrastructure option.
Yet even as military tensions threaten these critical assets, governments across the region are doubling down on desalination with unprecedented urgency.
