A drone strike near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant triggered a fire on Sunday, raising fresh security concerns in the Gulf region amid ongoing tensions involving Iran and its regional allies.
According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, one of three drones that entered the country from the western border direction struck an electrical generator located outside the inner perimeter of the nuclear facility in the Al Dhafra area. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were recorded and radiation levels remained normal after the incident.
The UAE government strongly condemned the , describing it as an unacceptable threat to national security and sovereignty. Officials stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the drones and identify those responsible for the assault.
The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, which began operations in 2020, is the first nuclear facility in the Arab world and currently provides up to a quarter of the UAE’s electricity supply. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation confirmed that the fire did not affect the safety systems or operational readiness of the plant, while all reactor units continue to function normally.
An official from Korea Electric Power Corporation, which operates the plant, stated that there was no direct damage to the nuclear reactors. However, one reactor was temporarily halted as a precautionary measure to ensure operational safety.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, expressed grave concern over the incident and warned that military activities threatening nuclear facilities are unacceptable.
Although the UAE did not officially identify the ers, suion has focused on Iranian backed armed groups in Iraq and Yemen, particularly the Houthi rebels who possess advanced drone capabilities. The incident comes amid fragile regional tensions following recent confrontations involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
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