A drone strike targeted the United Arab Emirates' sole nuclear power plant, the Barakah facility in Al Dhafra, on Sunday. The attack sparked a fire at an electrical generator located outside the plant's inner perimeter. Abu Dhabi authorities reported that the incident caused no injuries and that radiation levels remained normal, with plant operations unaffected.
The $20 billion Barakah plant, which went online in 2020 with assistance from South Korea, was the subject of what officials condemned as an unprovoked terrorist attack. Abu Dhabi described the strike as a dangerous escalation and a threat to regional security. While the UAE stated the drone arrived from its western border, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, although the UAE has recently accused Iran of targeting its energy and economic infrastructure.
The incident occurs during a precarious sixth week of a ceasefire in the war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Progress in peace talks appears to have stalled, and Donald Trump has voiced impatience regarding the deadlock. The strike spotlights the risks of the fragile ceasefire as tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy waterway currently under a U.S. naval blockade.