Drone Strike Near Barakah Nuclear Power Plant
The United Arab Emirates reported that a drone strike caused a fire near its Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday, describing the event as a "dangerous escalation." Officials are currently investigating the origin of the attack.
The UAE's defence ministry stated that three drones entered the country from the "western border direction." While two of these drones were intercepted, the third struck an electrical generator located "outside the inner perimeter" of the nuclear facility in Abu Dhabi, igniting a fire.
Local authorities confirmed that no injuries occurred and that radiological safety levels remained unaffected by the incident.
Official Responses and International Reactions
The UAE's foreign ministry condemned the strike as an "unacceptable act of aggression," affirming the nation's right to respond to any hostile actions. The ministry further stated:
"The targeting of peaceful nuclear energy facilities is a flagrant violation of international law, the UN charter, and the principles of humanitarian law."
Meanwhile, the defence ministry emphasized its commitment to counter any threats to the country's security, declaring it would "firmly confront any attempts to undermine the country's security." Officials have not disclosed the launch location of the drones.
Historically, the UAE has accused Iran of orchestrating attacks on its energy and economic infrastructure since the outbreak of conflict in the region in February.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported that the fire "broke out in an electric generator" and confirmed that precautionary measures were implemented at the plant, which continues to operate normally.
International Atomic Energy Agency Monitoring
The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated it is closely monitoring the situation. Its director general, Rafael Grossi, expressed "grave concern" regarding the incident.
Grossi said, "military activity that threatens nuclear safety is unacceptable," and called for "maximum military restraint."
This statement was shared via the IAEA's official X account.
Regional Context and Ongoing Conflict
Since February 28, Tehran has initiated strikes across the region in retaliation for attacks by the US and Israel against Iran. Iran has accused the UAE and other American allies in the Gulf of facilitating US attacks from their territories.
Conversely, the UAE has denied Iranian allegations that it has conducted attacks itself.
Although the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in April, sporadic exchanges of fire have persisted. On Monday, US President Donald Trump stated that the truce was on "massive life support," rejecting Iran's demands to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a vital shipping lane effectively closed since the conflict began.
Related Incident in Saudi Arabia
On the same day, Saudi Arabia's defence ministry announced it intercepted and destroyed three drones that had entered its airspace from Iraq.
