Before dawn on March 1, 2026, Iranian Shahed drones struck two Amazon Web Services data centers in the United Arab Emirates. A third commercial data center in Bahrain was hit, though it is less clear whether it was deliberately targeted. Iran has also indicated that it considers commercial data centers to be targets.
This is the first time that a country has deliberately targeted commercial data centers during wartime. Data centers have been targets of espionage and cyberattacks in the past, notably when Ukrainian hackers destroyed data stored in a Russian military-affiliated data center in 2024. This, however, was a physical attack. Drones damaged buildings.
kAmp5G2?46D :? 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 92G6 :?4C62D65 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E649E:>6D]4@>^2CE:4=6D^b`daeg^a_ae_ba`^H9J\3:8\E649\A@FC:?8\3:==:@?D\2:\52E2\46?E6CD\C6:?G6?E:?8\E649\:?7C2DECF4EFC6]9E>Qm:>A@CE2?46 @7 52E2 46?E6CDk^2m] %96 &]$] >:=:E2CJ[ :? A2CE:4F=2C[ 92D >256 8C62E FD6 @7 px DJDE6>D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FD\>:=:E2CJ\=62?D\:?E@\2:\7@C\2EE24<\@?\:C2?\3FE\E96\E649\5@6D?E\=6DD6?\E96\?665\7@C\9F>2?\;F58>6?E\:?\H2C\affgb`Qm7@C 564:D:@? DFAA@CEk^2m :? :ED 2EE24<D @? xC2? 2?5 '6?6KF6=2] v:G6? 9@H :>A@CE2?E 52E2 46?E6CD 2C6[ xC2?:2? 7@C46D 4@F=5 36 E2C86E:?8 E96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 xC2?’D =6256CD 36=:6G6 :D DFAA@CE:?8 DEC:<6D @? xC2?]k^Am
kAmxE :D ?@E 2=E@86E96C 4=62C E92E E96D6 A2CE:4F=2C 52E2 46?E6CD H6C6 FD65 3J E96 &]$] >:=:E2CJ] x?DE625[ E96 2EE24<D >2J 92G6 366? A2CE @7 2 3C@256C 677@CE E@ AF?:D9 E96 &?:E65 pC23 t>:C2E6D 7@C :ED E:6D H:E9 E96 &]$]k^Am
kAmx? >J 6IA6C:6?46 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?Dn9=l6?U2>AjFD6Cl|~D"!|_ppppyU2>AjG:6H0@Al=:DE0H@C<DU2>AjD@CE3JlAF352E6Qm2 !9]s] 42?5:52E6k^2m 2E v6@C8:2 %649 DEF5J:?8 9@H E649?@=@8J 5C:G6D 492?86D :? :?E6C?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ[ x 5@?’E E9:?< E96 2EE24<D D:8?2= 2?J D:8?:7:42?E 492?86 :? E96 ?2EFC6 @7 H2C72C6] qFE E96J 2C6 7@C4:?8 ?2E:@?D E@ C64@8?:K6 E92E 52E2 46?E6CD 2C6 E2C86ED @7 H2C – 6G6? :7 E96J 5@?’E 5:C64E=J DFAA@CE >:=:E2CJ @A6C2E:@?D]k^Am
k9ams2E2 46?E6CD 2?5 E96 4=@F5k^9am
kAm%96 &?:E65 $E2E6D >:=:E2CJ :D :?4C62D:?8=J :?4@CA@C2E:?8 25G2?465 px 42A23:=:E:6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FD\>:=:E2CJ\=62?D\:?E@\2:\7@C\2EE24<\@?\:C2?\3FE\E96\E649\5@6D?E\=6DD6?\E96\?665\7@C\9F>2?\;F58>6?E\:?\H2C\affgb`Qm:?E@ :ED 564:D:@? DFAA@CE DJDE6>Dk^2m] uC@> E96 @A6C2E:@? E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]HD;]4@>^A@=:E:4D^?2E:@?2=\D64FC:EJ^A6?E28@?\FD65\2?E9C@A:4D\4=2F56\:?\>25FC@\G6?6KF6=2\C2:5\dgb277`fQm42AEFC6 '6?6KF6=2? !C6D:56?E }:4@=áD |25FC@k^2m E@ DFAA@CE:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2I:@D]4@>^?6HD=6EE6CD^2I:@D\2>\7_hdc43a\a7b`\ccae\gf75\_d__hd__dbcc]9E>=Qm>:=:E2CJ DEC:<6D 282:?DE xC2?k^2m[ E96 &]$] 92D 366? FD:?8 px[ 6DA64:2==J p?E9C@A:4’D r=2F56[ 7@C :?E6==:86?46 2?2=JD:D 2?5 @A6C2E:@?2= DFAA@CE]k^Am
kAmpx :D F?=@4<:?8 72DE6C H2JD E@ 42CCJ @FE @A6C2E:@?D :? H2C[ 3FE E96 px E@@=D E96 >:=:E2CJ @7E6? FD6D 2C6 ?@E =@42E65 @? 2 A=2?6 @C D9:A] (96? 2 D6CG:46 >6>36C FD6D r=2F56[ E96 4@>AFE:?8 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 E92E A@H6CD E96 >@56= 2?5 :ED 2?2=JD:D FDF2==J 8@6D E@ 2 D64FC6 p>2K@? (63 $6CG:46D 4=@F5 E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2HD]2>2K@?]4@>^7656C2=^E@A\D64C6E\4=@F5^Qm9@DED D64C6E 8@G6C?>6?E 52E2k^2m 2?5 D@7EH2C6 E@@=D]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:7C2>6 H:5E9lQcc_Q 96:89ElQae_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^b*9h~55>8$_nH>@56lEC2?DA2C6?EU2>AjDE2CEl_Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQQmk^:7C2>6mk7:842AE:@?m%96 32D:4D @7 52E2 46?E6CD 6IA=2:?65]k^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmr@>>6C4:2= 52E2 46?E6CD 2C6 H96C6 E96 4=@F5 =:G6D] %96 ?6IE E:>6 J@F AF== FA }6E7=:I 2?5 H2E49 J@FC 72G@C:E6 D9@HD[ J@F 2C6 =:<6=J DEC62>:?8 E96 AC@8C2>>:?8 7C@> 2 52E2 46?E6C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6FC@?6HD]4@>^?6IE^a_aa^_h^_f^?6E7=:I\4@DEDQmA@DD:3=J p($k^2m] (96? p($ 52E2 46?E6CD 8@ 5@H?[ @FE286D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?34?6HD]4@>^?6HD^FD\?6HD^2>2K@?\H63\D6CG:46D\@FE286\H63D:E6D\@77=:?6\C4?2abgdhcQm27764E 2== D@CED @7 6?E6CE2:?>6?E[ ?6HD 2?5 8@G6C?>6?E 7F?4E:@?Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm(:E9 px 2D 2 5C:G6C @7 64@?@>:4 8C@HE9[ 52E2 46?E6CD 2C6 <6J 7@C>D @7 :?7C2DECF4EFC6] %96J 6?DFC6 E92E px 42? 4@?E:?F6 E@ CF?[ 2D H6== 2D >F49 @7 E96 F?56C=J:?8 :?E6C?6E E92E 8@G6C?>6?ED 2?5 :?5FDECJ C6=J @?] (96? xC2? 2EE24<65 E96 &pt’D 52E2 46?E6CD[ :E 42FD65 H:56DAC625 5:DCFAE:@? E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E@>D92C5H2C6]4@>^E649\:?5FDECJ^5C@?6\DEC:<6D\9:E\E9C66\2HD\52E2\46?E6CD\:?\E96\F26\2?5\329C2:?QmE96 =@42= 32?<:?8 DJDE6>k^2m]k^Am
kAmr@>>6C4:2= 52E2 46?E6CD 6?23=6 >@DE @7 E96 E649?@=@8J E92E CF?D E96 >@56C? H@C=5[ :?4=F5:?8 px DJDE6>D] s:DCFAE:?8 E96> :D <6J E@ 5:DCFAE:?8 E96 >:=:E2CJ 2?5 D@4:6EJ @7 2 4@F?ECJ] v:G6? E92E p($ AC@G:56D 2?5 @A6C2E6D >2?J @7 E96 4@>>6C4:2= 52E2 46?E6CD H96C6 E96 4=@F5 =:G6D[ :E :D =:<6=J E92E :ED 52E2 46?E6CD H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 36 E2C86E65 :? 4@?7=:4E]k^Am
k9amv@:?8 27E6C &$ 2==:6Dk^9am
kAm#6D62C496CD 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];FDED64FC:EJ]@C8^`bbegd^:C2?:2?\2EE24<D\2>2K@?\52E2\46?E6CD\=682=\2?2=JD:D^QmyFDE $64FC:EJ ?@E65k^2m @? |2C49 `a[ a_ae[ E92E E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D C6BF:C6D 4=@F5\4@>AFE:?8 D6CG:46 AC@G:56CD E@ DE@C6 8@G6C?>6?E 2?5 >:=:E2CJ 52E2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]24BF:D:E:@?]8@G^572CD^abh]fe_a\a\C6BF:C65\DE@C286\52E2\H:E9:?\F?:E65\DE2E6D\@C\@FE=J:?8\2C62D]QmH:E9:? E96 &]$] @C @? s6A2CE>6?E @7 s676?D6 32D6Dk^2mi “|@G:?8 DF49 52E2 E@ p>2K@? 52E2 46?E6CD :? E96 vF=7 C68:@? H@F=5 C6BF:C6 DA64:2= 2FE9@C:K2E:@?j H6 2C6 F?2H2C6 :7 E92E 92D 366? 8C2?E65]”k^Am
kAm}6G6CE96=6DD[ xC2?’D xD=2>:4 #6G@=FE:@?2CJ vF2C5 r@CAD 4=2:>65 E96 DEC:<6D H6C6 282:?DE 52E2 46?E6CD DFAA@CE:?8 “E96 6?6>J’D” >:=:E2CJ 2?5 :?E6==:86?46 24E:G:E:6D] p?5 `_ 52JD 27E6C E96 :?:E:2= 2EE24< @? E96 52E2 46?E6CD[ 2? xC2?:2? ?6HD 286?4J 4=2:>65 E92E >2;@C E649 4@>A2?J 52E2 46?E6CD 2?5 @E96C A9JD:42= 2DD6ED :? E96 C68:@? H6C6 4@?D:56C65 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6FC@?6HD]4@>^?6IE^a_ae^_b^`a^6?6>J\E649?@=@8J\:?7C2DECF4EFC6\:C2?\E9C62E6?D\2>2K@?\8@@8=6\2?5\>:4C@D@7E\2DD6ED\:?\>:55=Qm6?6>J E649?@=@8J :?7C2DECF4EFC6k^2m]”k^Am
kAmx?DE625 @7 >:=:E2CJ C62D@?D[ xC2? >2J H6== 92G6 E2C86E65 E96 &pt E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4?34]4@>^a_ae^_b^`d^:C2?\FD\H2C\F26\E2C86E\288C6DD:@?]9E>=QmC2EE=6 E96 8=@32= 64@?@>J 2?5 82C?6C 2EE6?E:@?k^2m] v:G6? E96 AC@>:?6?46 @7 E96 vF=7 2D 2 >2;@C C64:A:6?E @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E969:==]4@>^3FD:?6DD^dfgbfab\FD\H2C\:C2?\>:55=6\62DE\2:^Qm&]$] E649?@=@8:42= :?G6DE>6?Ek^2m[ E96 2EE24< >2J 2=D@ 92G6 366? 2 DJ>3@=:4 @?6 2:>65 2E E96 962CE @7 &]$]\vF=7 4@@A6C2E:@?] px :?7C2DECF4EFC6 DF49 2D 4@>>6C4:2= 52E2 46?E6CD :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H2C@?E96C@4<D]4@>^a_ad^`_^D:=:4@?\DE2E64C27E\9@H\F\D\8F=7\2:\562=D\AC@;64E\A@H6C^Qm2 8C@H:?8 A2CE @7 &]$] =6256CD9:A :? E96 C68:@?k^2m[ 2?5 E9:D H2C 4@F=5 ;6@A2C5:K6 E96 7FEFC6 @7 px :?7C2DECF4EFC6 :? E96 vF=7]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQ>6? H62C:?8H9:E6 C@36D 2?5 96255C6DD6D DE2?5 @G6C 2 >@56= @7 2? :?5FDEC:2= A2C<Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fafcge^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_bb`\eb\`8h93E];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m%9:D >@56= D9@HD 2 >2DD:G6 52E2 46?E6C[ A2CE @7 E96 $E2C82E6 AC@;64E :?G@=G:?8 &]$] E649 4@>A2?:6D[ 4FCC6?E=J F?56C 4@?DECF4E:@? :? E96 &?:E65 pC23 t>:C2E6D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^?6HD\A9@E@^8F6DED\=@@<\2E\2\>@56=\@7\E96\=2C86DE\52E2\46?E6C\:?\E96\?6HD\A9@E@^aaccbdfgdgQmv:FD6AA6 rprprt^pu! G:2 v6EEJ x>286Dk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9amvC@H:?8 :>A@CE2?46[ 62DJ E2C86EDk^9am
kAm%9@F89 52E2 46?E6CD 2C6 :?4C62D:?8=J :>A@CE2?E 7@C ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ[ E96 64@?@>J 2?5 D@4:6EJ 2E =2C86[ :E 42? 36 E6>AE:?8 E@ DF886DE E96D6 DEC:<6D C6AC6D6?E 2 7F?52>6?E2= D9:7E :? E96 ?2EFC6 @7 H2C] (9:=6 E92E :D 2 A@DD:3:=:EJ[ :E :D :>A@CE2?E E@ C6>6>36C E92E xC2? =2F?4965 E9@FD2?5D @7 >:DD:=6D 2?5 5C@?6D 2E E2C86ED :? E96 &pt] %9@F89 E96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ H6C6 :?E6C46AE65[ E96 EH@ E92E DECF4< 52E2 46?E6CD 2C6 2 D>2== A@CE:@? @7 E96 @?6D E92E 8@E E9C@F89 E@ 4:G:=:2? E2C86ED :? &pt E6CC:E@CJ[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6FC@?6HD]4@>^a_ae^_b^_`^:C2?:2?\DEC:<6D\9:E\5F32:\2?5\23F\5923:\52>28:?8\2:CA@CE\E6C>:?2=D\2?5\E96\3FC;\2=\2C23Qm:?4=F5:?8 DEC:<6D @? 2:CA@CED 2?5 9@E6=Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm%96 C6=2E:G6 GF=?6C23:=:EJ @7 4@>>6C4:2= 52E2 46?E6CD – E96J 2C6 =2C86[ C6=2E:G6=J 7C28:=6 2?5 =24< 565:42E65 2:C 5676?D6D – DF886DED E92E E96 @?6D :? E96 &pt >2J 92G6 366? E2C86ED @7 @AA@CEF?:EJ @C 4@?G6?:6?46] x? @E96C H@C5D[ E96J H6C6 9:E 3642FD6 E96J 4@F=5 36 9:E]k^Am
kAm}6G6CE96=6DD[ :E D66>D =:<6=J E92E 2D E96 FD6 @7 px E@@=D 2?5 @E96C 4=@F5\32D65 C6D@FC46D 4@?E:?F6D E@ 8C@H :? :>A@CE2?46 7@C 4@F?EC:6D 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5[ 4@>>6C4:2= 52E2 46?E6CD H:== 36 E2C86ED :? 7FEFC6 4@?7=:4ED]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgecaQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^56??:D\>FCA9J\aeae_``nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgecaQms6??:D |FCA9Jk^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^86@C8:2\:?DE:EFE6\@7\E649?@=@8J\`b`_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgecaQmv6@C8:2 x?DE:EFE6 @7 %649?@=@8Jk^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FD\>:=:E2CJ\=62?D\:?E@\2:\7@C\2EE24<\@?\:C2?\3FE\E96\E649\5@6D?E\=6DD6?\E96\?665\7@C\9F>2?\;F58>6?E\:?\H2C\affgb`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgecaQm&$ >:=:E2CJ =62?D :?E@ px 7@C 2EE24< @? xC2?[ 3FE E96 E649 5@6D?’E =6DD6? E96 ?665 7@C 9F>2? ;F58>6?E :? H2Ck^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\4=@F5\D6CG:46\@FE286D\C:AA=6\24C@DD\E96\:?E6C?6E\2?5\E96\64@?@>J\afaac`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgecaQm(9J 4=@F5 D6CG:46 @FE286D C:AA=6 24C@DD E96 :?E6C?6E – 2?5 E96 64@?@>Jk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^9@H\72C\42?\:C2?D\32==:DE:4\>:DD:=6D\C6249\2\5676?D6\6IA6CE\6IA=2:?D\9@H\E96\>:DD:=6D\H@C<\2?5\H92E\:C2?\42?\2?5\42?E\9:E\afh_fanFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgecaQmw@H 72C 42? xC2?’D 32==:DE:4 >:DD:=6D C6249n p 5676?D6 6IA6CE 6IA=2:?D 9@H E96 >:DD:=6D H@C<[ 2?5 H92E xC2? 42? 2?5 42?’E 9:Ek^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?ms6??:D |FCA9J :D 277:=:2E65 H:E9 v6@C8:2 %649[ E96 v6@C8:2 %649 #6D62C49 x?DE:EFE6[ E96 #p}s r@CA@C2E:@?[ E96 }@EC6 s2>6 x?E6C?2E:@?2= $64FC:EJ r6?E6C[ 2?5 E96 pDEC2 u6==@HD9:A] w6 AC6G:@FD=J H2D 277:=:2E65 H:E9 {2HC6?46 {:G6C>@C6 }2E:@?2= {23[ |2C:?6 r@CAD &?:G6CD:EJ[ 2?5 E96 r2>3C:586 &?:G6CD:EJ t#p u6==@HD9:A]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^afgeca^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.