Iran has launched intense attacks on American facilities across several Middle Eastern countries in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes, heightening fears over water security in the region. Earlier this month, an Iranian drone strike severely damaged Bahrain’s desalination plant, bringing the issue of water safety to the forefront in Gulf nations where desalinated water is essential for daily life.

According to a recent Moody’s report, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries rely heavily on desalination for most of their drinking water, with hundreds of coastal plants providing the majority of the world’s processed water. The report warns that this dependence poses a serious security risk, as the plants are concentrated along vulnerable coastlines with limited short-term alternatives. The recent conflict has exposed how easily these facilities could become targets, threatening both water and energy supplies.

Moody’s notes that disruptions in water supply could quickly affect electricity generation and industrial output. Governments are urged to take swift and costly measures to protect water infrastructure, as prolonged conflict could severely impact weaker economies like Bahrain’s.