Bahrain's Ministry of Interior announced on 8/3 that "Iran, through its aggressive actions, randomly bombed civilian targets and caused material damage to a seawater desalination plant following an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack". This marks the first instance an Arab nation has reported Iran targeting desalination plants during the 9-day conflict in the Middle East.

These facilities are vital infrastructure, providing critical drinking water to arid desert regions across the Gulf. Hundreds of desalination plants line the Persian Gulf coast, with regional Arab nations heavily dependent on these facilities for drinking water. Bahrain's water authority confirmed the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack from Iran did not disrupt the nation's water supply.

The attack follows a statement by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who claimed a US airstrike damaged Iran's desalination plant on Qeshm island. Araghchi warned that "the US set a precedent, not Iran". The US military has not confirmed the attack on Iran's desalination plant.

A Bahraini power and seawater desalination plant project viewed from above. *Photo: Invest.bh*.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared today that it could sustain a high-intensity conflict against the US and Israel for at least 6 more months. IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini stated that "Iran has only used 'first and second-generation' missiles so far, but will deploy 'advanced and rarely used long-range missiles' in the coming days".

Iran's strategic position in the Middle East. *Graphics: Guardian*.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military warned it would continue to pursue all successors to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who died in US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on 28/2. They also declared their intent to target anyone attempting to appoint Khamenei's successor, an implicit reference to the clerical body responsible for selecting the nation's Supreme Leader.

By Vu Hoang (Source: AFP, Reuters, AP)