The United Arab Emirates reported a drone strike that triggered a fire near its nuclear power station on Sunday, calling the incident a 'dangerous escalation'. Officials are actively investigating the source of the strike, with the country’s defense ministry reporting that three drones entered the UAE from the 'western border direction'.
Two of the drones were intercepted; however, the third drone struck an electrical generator 'outside the inner perimeter' of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi, leading to a fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and local authorities confirmed there was no impact on radiological safety levels.
The UAE's foreign ministry condemned the strike as an 'unacceptable act of aggression', asserting the nation’s right to respond to any hostilities. Furthermore, they stated that 'the targeting of peaceful nuclear energy facilities is a flagrant violation of international law, the UN charter, and the principles of humanitarian law'.
The defense ministry vowed to 'firmly confront' any attempts to undermine the nation's security. Although officials have not disclosed the drone’s launch site, the UAE has previously accused Iran of orchestrating attacks on its critical infrastructure amidst regional tensions since February.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported that the fire occurred in an electric generator and confirmed the plant was operating normally with precautionary measures in place. The UN’s nuclear watchdog, represented by Director General Rafael Grossi, expressed 'grave concern' over the incident, emphasizing that 'military activity that threatens nuclear safety is unacceptable' and calling for 'maximum military restraint'.
This attack is part of broader tensions in the region, with similar incidents reported elsewhere. On the same day, Saudi Arabia announced that it had intercepted and destroyed three drones entering from Iraq. Iranian forces have characterized their military actions as retaliation for US and allied strikes, complicating the security landscape further.
