On Sunday, a drone attack targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates, igniting a fire. According to local authorities, the fire was caused by a generator outside the plant’s security perimeter. However, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) confirmed that the facility’s safety was not compromised and that all four reactors were operating normally.
The Emirates have blamed Iran for attacks on their energy infrastructure. This incident follows a series of drone and missile strikes that have increased since the onset of the Iran conflict in February 2024. Despite a ceasefire that took effect in April, the Emirates continued to report attacks on their infrastructure.
The Barakah nuclear power plant, which has been operational since 2000, is located about 200 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi, near the borders with Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In 2024, it supplied about a quarter of the Emirates’ electricity needs. The UAE is the second country in the region to build a nuclear power plant, following Iran, and the first in the Arab world.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejected Iranian attempts to justify attacks on the Emirates, emphasizing that the country reserves the right to respond to any threat.
