A drone strike near the UAE’s Barakah nuclear facility triggered a fire and raised fresh security concerns in the Gulf region.
The United Arab Emirates says a drone strike caused a fire near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday after three drones entered the country from its western border.
According to the UAE defence ministry, two drones were intercepted while a third struck an electrical generator outside the plant’s inner perimeter. Officials confirmed there were no injuries and no impact on nuclear or radiological safety levels.
The UAE described the incident as a “dangerous escalation” and an “unacceptable act of aggression.” Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine who launched the drones.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was closely monitoring the situation. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called for “maximum military restraint” and warned that any military activity threatening nuclear safety is unacceptable.
The strike comes amid ongoing regional tensions following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel earlier this year. The UAE has previously accused Iran of targeting Gulf energy infrastructure, though Tehran has denied carrying out attacks against the country.
Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting three drones that entered its airspace from Iraq on the same day, highlighting growing security concerns across the region.
