A drone strike near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi triggered a fire on Sunday, UAE authorities said, adding that there were no casualties and no impact on radiation levels.
The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “a dangerous escalation” and warning that it reserves the right to respond.
According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, the drone involved was one of three that entered the country “from the western border direction”. Officials said the other two drones were intercepted successfully.
The ministry stated that the drone hit “an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra area”.
Located around 200 kilometres west of Abu Dhabi near the borders with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant began operations in 2020 and supplies nearly a quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs.
“Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the attacks, and updates will be disclosed upon completion of the investigations,” the ministry said.
In a statement, the UAE foreign ministry said the country “condemned in the strongest terms the unprovoked terrorist attack” and “will not tolerate any threat to its security and sovereignty under any circumstances”.
“These attacks constitute a dangerous escalation, an unacceptable act of aggression and a direct threat to the country’s security,” the statement added.
The UAE foreign minister also informed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi that the country has the right to respond to such attacks.
Grossi condemned the incident as well, saying, “Military activity that threatens nuclear safety is unacceptable.”
