The Iran War has opened a new era of water infrastructure risk, with Iranian forces using drones to target desalination plants and other water facilities in the Gulf States. This tactic has been used in response to US military strikes, with Iran claiming to have struck desalination facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. The use of drones to target water infrastructure is a relatively new development, but it has the potential to have significant impacts on civilian populations.
The Gulf States are particularly vulnerable to disruptions in their water supplies, as they rely heavily on desalination plants to provide drinking water for their populations. A sustained attack on these facilities could lead to a major crisis, with potentially devastating consequences for public health and national security.
The US and its allies are facing significant challenges in defending against these types of attacks, with a shortage of interceptor missiles and other air defense systems. This shortage could leave the Gulf States vulnerable to a sustained assault on their water infrastructure, with potentially catastrophic consequences.
