On Day 9 of the war, fighting spread to civilian water supplies. Bahrain said Iran struck one of its desalination plants Sunday — facilities that produce most of the Gulf's drinking water. Saudi Arabia recorded its first war deaths. The UAE was hit again by Iranian drones and missiles. And Iran's president made clear there would be no backing down.
What Happened: Bahrain's Water Plant Hit
Bahrain accused Iran of hitting one of its desalination plants with a drone strike Sunday. Desalination plants turn seawater into drinking water. In the Gulf, these plants supply nearly all of the fresh water that millions of people drink every day — including tourists, foreign workers, and residents.
Bahrain's electricity and water authority said the plant was damaged but that water supplies were still running. The government called Iran's attack "indiscriminate" and said it deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure.
Iran pushed back. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US struck one of Iran's desalination plants first — on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz — cutting water to 30 villages. He warned that "the US set this precedent, not Iran." The US military's CENTCOM said flatly: "U.S. forces do not target civilians — period."
Status: Confirmed by 2+ sources. Bahrain's government confirmed the damage. AP News and Al Jazeera both reported it. Iran's countercharge is reported but not independently verified.
Saudi Arabia: First Deaths of the War
Saudi Arabia reported its first deaths from the Iran war Sunday. A military projectile hit a residential area and killed two people — one from India, one from Bangladesh. Twelve other Bangladeshi nationals were wounded.
Nearly all of the civilian deaths in Gulf nations so far have been foreign workers — people from South Asia who came to Gulf countries for jobs. Saudi Arabia has been under periodic missile and drone fire but had not reported any deaths until now.
Status: Confirmed. Reported by AP News and the Saudi government.
UAE Accused Iran of a New Attack
The UAE accused Iran of launching another round of drones and missiles at the country Sunday. This came a day after Iran fired more than 100 missiles and drones at the UAE in a single barrage — its biggest single attack on the country since the war began.
Bahrain and Kuwait also reported additional Iranian missiles launched in their direction. Bahrain's air defenses have been busy since the war started; the small island nation is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.
What Iran Said
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian gave a speech Sunday and drew a hard line. "The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be," he said. "Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression — and it never has."
This reversed a softer tone he struck Saturday, when he apologized to Gulf neighbors for Iranian strikes landing in their territory. Iranian hard-liners quickly rejected that apology. By Sunday, Pezeshkian himself was matching their position.
Separately, Iran's judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei wrote online that "intense attacks on these targets will continue," referring to US military infrastructure using Gulf countries as launch points.
What the US and Israel Said
US President Donald Trump told ABC News he wants a role in deciding who leads Iran after the war ends. He said any future Iranian leader "is not going to last long" without his approval. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have both said the military campaign will continue.
Israel said its oil depot strikes in Tehran Friday were aimed at "fuel storage facilities used to operate military infrastructure." Iran's state media said four tanker drivers were killed in those strikes. Thick black smoke still covered Tehran Sunday morning from fires set during Friday night's attacks.
Lebanon: 517,000 Displaced
Lebanon reported more than 517,000 people have been displaced since Israel renewed strikes on Hezbollah positions last week. The actual number is likely higher — the 517,000 count only includes people who formally registered with the government. Health officials said 83 children and 82 women are among those killed in Lebanon so far.
War Totals — Day 9
- Iran: 1,230+ killed (includes ~200 children)
- Lebanon: 397+ killed · 517,000+ displaced
- Israel: ~13 killed (2 soldiers killed Sunday in Lebanon — first military deaths of the war)
- US troops: 6 killed
- Oil price: ~$92/barrel
- Strait of Hormuz: ~20% of daily world oil supply still disrupted