Iranian military forces struck Amazon Web Services data center facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in early March 2026.

The attacks mark a significant escalation in regional conflict, as military forces target the digital backbone of Western-aligned infrastructure to disrupt communications and services.

Reports indicate that two Amazon data center sites were damaged [1]. The strikes, which occurred on March 3, 2026 [2], resulted in fires and power shutdowns at the facilities. These disruptions caused approximately five percent of regional AWS capacity to go offline temporarily [3].

There are conflicting reports regarding the weaponry used in the operation. Some sources described the events as drone strikes, while others identified the attacks as cruise missile strikes. Similarly, reports varied on the primary target, with some focusing on the UAE facility and others on the site in Bahrain.

"Our forces successfully targeted the data infrastructure in Bahrain," an Iranian military official said.

Amazon acknowledged the disruptions and the need to coordinate with regional governments to stabilize the network. "We are investigating the incident and are working closely with local authorities to restore services," an Amazon spokesperson said.

Satellite analysis published in July 2026 provided further evidence of the damage to the sites. The analysis confirmed the physical impact of the strikes on the facilities in both the UAE and Bahrain [1].

Cybersecurity experts suggest that the targeting of cloud hubs represents a shift in modern warfare. "These attacks underscore the vulnerability of cloud infrastructure in conflict zones and the need for hardened, redundant designs," Dr. Phoebe Liu said.

“"Our forces successfully targeted the data infrastructure in Bahrain,"”

The targeting of cloud computing hubs signals a transition toward 'digital attrition' in regional conflicts. By attacking physical data centers, state actors can disrupt not only corporate operations but also government services and military logistics that rely on cloud architecture. This increases the geopolitical risk for tech providers and necessitates a shift toward decentralized or physically hardened infrastructure in volatile regions.