<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/middle-east" rel="" target="_blank" title="Persian Gulf "><span>Persian Gulf</span></a><span> has a resource more precious than oil. Water.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And there are fears the recent targeting of desalination plants in the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title="US "><span>US</span></a><span> and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/israel" rel="" target="_blank" title="Israeli "><span>Israeli</span></a><span> war with Iran could severely disrupt water supply across the desert countries.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bahrain reported an Iranian drone had caused damage to its water desalination plant, a day after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/iran" rel="" target="_blank" title="Iran "><span>Iran</span></a><span> accused the US of hitting one of its plants on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/mojtaba-khamenei-son-of-irans-supreme-leader-has-been-named-his-successor-iranian-state-tv-says/2af18a14-e341-4b8d-9e30-e3382d346e47" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new Supreme Leader?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The US committed a blatant and desperate crime by attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Water supply in 30 villages has been impacted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Attacking Iran's infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences. The US set this precedent, not Iran."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-updates-how-targeting-desalination-plants-could-disrupt-water-supply-in-the-gulf/b5fe7507-9e05-4637-ac35-44049c1da8d3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This marked the first time Gulf countries have reported targeting of their desalination plants in the nine days since the war erupted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here is why that is a big deal. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While oil has built the Middle East, it is water that keeps one of the world's driest regions going.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The majority of the Gulf relies on over 400 desalination facilities for much of its water supply due to the arid climate and irregular rainfall.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The facilities convert the seawater that surrounds these countries into safe drinking water through a process of reverse osmosis, which separates the salt from the water.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About 90 per cent of water comes from desalination in Kuwait, about 86 per cent in Oman and 70 per cent in Saudi Arabia. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>These systems have long been recognised as a risk to regional stability. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-live-updates-march-9-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headline/c2734fe0-11d0-4249-8470-a211aa4191e1" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>More than $100 billion wiped off Aussie shares</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If the major desalination plants were damaged or offline, there is the suggestion some cities could even lose their drinking water in days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A CIA analysis in 2010 warned that attacks on these facilities could trigger a national crisis, and critical damage could lead to months-long outages.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Each of these critical plants is extremely vulnerable to sabotage or military action," the report read.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Several countries, like Saudi Arabia, have upgraded their water systems, but the region remains vulnerable to water supply issues.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>- Reported with Associated Press</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>