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MIDDLE EAST — MARCH 12, 2026: As the US-Israel war with Iran escalates, a troubling reality is coming into focus: critical water systems are increasingly caught in the crosshairs of modern conflict.From desalination plants in the Middle East to dams and pipelines in other war zones, the targeting of water infrastructure is emerging as a powerful and dangerous instrument of warfare.Over the weekend, airstrikes and drone attacks struck desalination facilities in Iran and Bahrain, raising fears that the conflict could spill into systems that sustain daily life for tens of millions in one of the world’s most water-scarce regions.Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of striking a desalination facility on Qeshm Island, saying the attack disrupted water supplies to roughly 30 villages and warning it could have “grave consequences.” Washington denied involvement.A day later, Bahraini officials said an Iranian drone caused material damage to a desalination plant in the island nation, though authorities said the incident did not affect water supplies.The threat comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the region as temperatures climb toward the peak of summer months, when water demand surges.Experts warn that even temporary disruptions could quickly create humanitarian risks.“Desalination plants provide anywhere from roughly half of national water supplies to nearly 90% in some Gulf countries,” said Mohammed Mahmoud, a water security expert and Middle East lead at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health.“When you impact infrastructure that generates the water supply and it goes offline, it creates a really dangerous situation,” he told Anadolu.(Footage by Emre Çiftliklioğlu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)