This refers to the people who live in Babylon as being a desert, even though God has not made it into a desert yet. This event will certainly happen. Alternate translation: "about the people who live in a land that soon will be a desert" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-pastforfuture]])
Isaiah compares the army that will attack the people to a storm with strong winds. They will be quick and powerful. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]])