Amazon data center strikes have disrupted cloud operations in the Middle East amid rising regional tensions. Drone attacks targeted three AWS facilities in the Gulf, affecting power, connectivity, and key services. Consequently, the company urged customers to safeguard data and consider using alternate regions.
Two facilities in the United Arab Emirates took direct hits, while a third in Bahrain suffered damage nearby. As a result, structural damage, flooding, and fire suppression activities occurred. These events worsened water damage at some sites and interrupted AWS service delivery.
Amazon reported that services such as EC2 compute, S3 storage, and DynamoDB databases faced significant disruptions. The company emphasized that the Middle East operating environment remains unpredictable due to the ongoing conflict. Therefore, recovery plans will take time and require careful coordination with local authorities.
The company confirmed that recovery from the damage is expected to be prolonged. Meanwhile, teams prioritize staff safety while gradually restoring essential systems. Amazon advised customers with workloads in the region to back up data immediately and migrate operations if possible.
Internal reports indicate that staff evacuation occurred at the affected facilities. One location suffered direct impact and major structural damage. Additionally, flooding inside the facility reached three to four centimeters before receding. Cooling and air handling systems were also disrupted, affecting the environment required for servers.
AWS racks containing EC2 cloud servers and other production systems went offline due to the damage. At the same time, monitoring cameras recorded facility conditions, highlighting mechanical failures in some systems.
The data center known as DXB62, likely in Dubai, experienced the most severe structural and operational issues. DXB61 closed after indirect impact, including a small fire that required government approval before entry. DXB60 saw a localized WiFi outage with limited effect on operations.
Amazon noted incremental progress in restoring DynamoDB and S3 control planes. However, full power and connectivity will take at least a day. The company continues updating clients on system recovery and operational status.
The drone strikes and resulting Amazon data center damage reflect broader regional instability. US-Iran tensions prompted missile and drone activity in neighboring countries. Businesses and cloud clients face uncertainty until operations fully stabilize.
As a precaution, Amazon emphasized proactive data management. Customers are encouraged to implement backups and consider temporary migration to other AWS regions. The company continues to work with authorities to restore service safely and efficiently.
