Water supply targeted? Bahrain says Iran struck a key desalination plant amid escalating Middle East crisis

“Iranian aggression indiscriminately targeted civilian infrastructure and caused material damage to a water desalination plant following a drone attack,” Bahrain Ministry of Interior said in a post on X.

According to media reports, at least three people were injured in the incident.

In response, Iran claimed that the United States had set a precedent by previously targeting a desalination facility on Iranian territory.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X: “The U.S. committed a blatant and desperate crime by attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Water supply in 30 villages has been impacted.”

“Attacking Iran’s infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences. The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran,” he added.

The Gulf region hosts around 400 desalination plants—many powered by oil and gas—which together produce nearly 40 percent of the world’s desalinated water, according to Al Jazeera. Bahrain relies heavily on such facilities, generating the majority of its drinking water through desalination.

In a separate post on X, the Bahrain Ministry of Interior said three people were injured after fragments of an Iranian missile struck a university building in the Muharraq area.

“As a result of the blatant Iranian aggression, three people were injured and material damage was inflicted on a university building in Muharraq after missile fragments fell,” the ministry said.

The latest escalation follows a military operation launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, which reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and significantly heightened tensions across the Middle East.

In retaliation, Iran has reportedly targeted multiple Gulf nations.