Key facts
- A power generation and water desalination plant in Kuwait was attacked for the second time in two days.
- The attack caused a fire and damaged several power generation units.
- Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy confirmed the incident.
- Approximately 90% of Kuwait's drinking water comes from desalination.
- The attack underscores the vulnerability of critical water infrastructure in the Middle East.
Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy confirmed that a power generation and water desalination plant was attacked for the second time in two days, causing severe damage and fires. Teams were working to extinguish the blaze, and several power generation units were damaged. Iranian strikes on Friday hit a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait, damaging one of the key sources of drinking water in the small desert nation. Kuwaiti authorities said the strikes damaged a large number of power generation units and sparked a fire, adding that the fire has been contained and emergency contingency plans were activated. In Kuwait, about 90% of drinking water comes from desalination, along with roughly 86% in Oman and about 70% in Saudi Arabia. The process removes salt from seawater, most commonly by pushing it through ultrafine membranes in a process known as reverse osmosis. Hundreds of desalination plants sit along the Persian Gulf coast, putting systems that supply water to millions within range of Iranian missile or drone strikes. Without them, major cities could not sustain their current populations. Kuwait reported damage at the Doha West desalination plant caused by debris from intercepted drones or attacks on the nearby port days after the start of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28.