UAE says drones targeting nuclear plant came from Iraq
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The UAE Ministry of Defense said Tuesday that the drones which targeted the vicinity of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday originated from Iraqi territory.
A drone struck an electrical generator near the Barakah plant on Sunday.
The facility, the only nuclear power station in the Arab world, is located in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The strike caused a fire, but no injuries or radiation leakage were reported. Two other drones were intercepted.
Located near the borders with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Barakah’s proximity to neighboring Gulf states sparked concern across the region following the attack.
In a post on X, the UAE Ministry of Defense said: “As part of the ongoing investigation into the blatant attack on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on May 17, 2026, tracking and technical monitoring results confirmed that the three drones all originated from Iraqi territory.”
The UAE has faced missile and drone attacks in recent months originating from Iran, as part of Tehran’s response to the US-‘Israeli’ assault launched against it on February 28.
However, the nuclear facility had remained untouched until Sunday’s incident.
The plant supplies up to one-quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs, according to the state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, which operates the facility, in 2024.
The facility had previously been identified as a potential target by Iran. In March, Iranian media published a list of nuclear power stations considered possible targets, including Barakah.
