Conflicts over water are ancient. According to the US-based Pacific Institute which specializes in water policy, water conflict appears to have occurred for the first time 4,500 years ago when a king named Urlama diverted water through canals to deprive the enemy of water. More recently, climate change and scarcity of water resulting from a drought between 2006 and 2011 and the consequent crop failures encouraged discontent that led to Syria's civil war. Among those targeted were water resources consisting of, among others, attacks on water treatment plants in Aleppo and attacks in Iraq on local water systems.

Tolentino, A. S. Jr. (2022, July 23). Asean water security concerns: Focus on the Mekong River. The Manila Times, pp. A4, A5.