War in Iran Has Put Middle East Water Supplies at RiskTwo weeks into the war in Iran, two water desalination plants in the region have been damaged in military operations, raising concerns over the vulnerability of a system that serves as a lifeline for millions across the Middle East. Kuwait Oman Israel Saudi Arabia Lebanon Yemen Iran Note: Data for Israel, Lebanon, Yemen and Iran as of 2022. Solmaz Daryani for The New York TimesEven if desalination plants aren’t targeted directly, damage to surrounding facilities could still disrupt their operations. Some plants draw water from the sea, raising the prospect that polluted water could clog plant filters or contaminate pipes. Desalination plants are energy‑intensive, and many are built on sites shared with oil, gas and renewable power plants.

Source: International New York Times March 14, 2026 18:04 UTC