Earlier this week, Amazon Web Services (AWS) facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were reportedly struck by Iranian drones, causing structural damage and power disruptions. These incidents coincide with a declaration by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that US tech companies are now considered military targets, citing recent attacks on Iran by US and Israeli forces.
Reported Strikes on AWS Infrastructure
Three Amazon Web Services (AWS) facilities located in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were reportedly targeted by Iranian drones earlier this week. The alleged strikes resulted in structural damage to the facilities, disrupted power delivery to infrastructure, and necessitated fire suppression activities which subsequently led to water damage.
While Iranian Revolutionary Guard-affiliated news sources claimed that both Amazon and Microsoft facilities were targeted, Microsoft has not reported any outages in the region.
In response to the situation, Amazon informed its clients that restoration efforts were underway.
The company advised customers with workloads in the Middle East to consider migrating them to alternative AWS Regions, citing the unpredictable operating environment due to ongoing regional conflict.
Iran Designates US Tech Companies as Military Targets
The reported strikes follow an announcement by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stating that US tech companies are now considered military targets. This declaration, reported by Iran's Tasnim News Agency via Al Jazeera, was made in response to recent attacks on Iran by US and Israeli military forces.
Iranian military officials specifically cited a strike on an Iranian bank, which reportedly resulted in several civilian employee casualties, as a reason for including US- and Israeli-linked financial and tech institutions among their declared targets.
Data Centers as Critical Infrastructure
These incidents highlight the strategic importance of data centers within military conflicts. The Middle East has attracted substantial investment from US hyperscalers, which analysts suggest places American assets within the region at increased risk. The growing demand for robust data centers, partly driven by artificial intelligence, further elevates their strategic value.
Patrick Murphy, executive director of the geopolitical unit at Hilco Global, noted that Iran and its proxies have historically targeted oil fields.
He observed that these recent attacks indicate a shift, with data centers now being perceived as critical infrastructure.
Murphy suggested that governments may need to integrate Middle Eastern data centers into national security planning, alongside traditional critical sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and transportation.
Matt Peal, director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, commented that Iranians view data centers as integral to the conflict, providing a means to impact the region.
Peal also pointed out that fortifying these facilities can be challenging due to exposed components like turbines and air conditioning units.