Amazon Web Services (AWS) has stated that it has been unable to restore its operations in one of its three data hosting regions in the UAE and the Bahrain network that have been affected by Iranian attacks. This conclusion comes after thorough assessments and has been communicated to the authorities of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Operations Affected by Attacks
Amazon Web Services announced in a statement: "We have determined that we are unable to restore access to resources and data hosted exclusively in the UAE and Bahrain region." However, customer support services will still be available to assist users in migrating to other regions. Since the onset of this disruption in March, most customers have been able to resume their operations in other regions by restoring backups or copying data that remained accessible.
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Consequences of the Attacks
Iran's attacks on key infrastructure in U.S. ally countries in the Gulf have caused major disruptions across several industries, including energy and infrastructure. These attacks have also inflicted long-term damage on major companies such as Emirates Global Aluminium and Qatar Energy. Governments and companies in the affected countries have swiftly responded to these developments and are working to prioritize the continuation of their operations.
Amazon Web Services also stated that it is reviewing all infrastructure affected by these attacks and has explored all options for restoring data and resources that had not been migrated before the region became inaccessible. However, the next steps for restoring the damaged sites are still unclear.
Currently, Amazon Web Services has nine sites in the Middle East, which include three sites in the UAE, three sites in Bahrain, and three sites in Israel. Additionally, three new sites are being planned in Saudi Arabia. Particularly in Bahrain, the damage to Amazon Web Services' infrastructure has extended to several areas and "has exceeded what the multi-region services and their multiple capabilities were designed for." Amazon Web Services services in Bahrain were disrupted twice in March, and one of the other regions was also affected in April.
Amazon Web Services stated: "We are committed to supporting our customers in the UAE and Bahrain." The company also expects to provide updates regarding the situation in Bahrain in early 2027.
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