Drone Attack Causes Fire Outside UAE Nuclear Plant; Units Operating Normally and Safely

(CNA Abu Dhabi, 17th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Authorities in the United Arab Emirates stated that a drone attack near a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi today caused a fire, but fortunately, the incident resulted in no casualties and radiation levels were unaffected. According to Agence France-Presse, the UAE Ministry of Defence indicated that the drone targeting the facility was one of three that "entered the country's airspace from the direction of the western border." The object struck "an external generator outside the inner protective boundary of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra region." The Ministry of Defence stated that an investigation is ongoing and further information will be released upon its completion. Anwar Gargash, an advisor to the UAE President, appeared to allude to Iran and its regional proxies when condemning the action. He wrote on the social media platform X: "A targeted terrorist attack on the Barakah clean nuclear plant, whether by the main perpetrator or through one of its proxies, is a dangerous escalation." He described the incident as a "dark scenario that violates all international laws and norms," accusing the perpetrators of disregarding the lives of UAE civilians. Iran-backed armed groups equipped with drones are active in Iraq, and Tehran's allies in Yemen, the Houthi rebels, also possess combat-grade drones. A statement from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the government "condemns this unprovoked terrorist attack in the strongest terms," stressing that "any threat to its security and sovereignty will not be tolerated under any circumstances." The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, which began operations in 2020, is located near the Saudi Arabian and Qatari borders, 200 kilometers west of the capital, Abu Dhabi. According to the state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Company in 2024, the plant supplies up to a quarter of the nation's electricity needs. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation confirmed that the fire did not affect the plant's safety or the operational capability of its critical systems, and all units are operating normally. (Translation: He Hongru) 1150518