A drone strike sparked a fire near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, in the latest sign of continued regional hostilities linked to the Iran conflict.
Authorities in Abu Dhabi said the drone struck an electrical generator outside the nuclear facility’s inner perimeter in the Al Dhafra region.
According to UAE officials, no injuries were reported, radiation levels remained normal, and the plant’s core systems were unaffected.
The UAE Defense Ministry said three drones were launched from the country’s western border.
Two were intercepted, but a third struck the site, causing the fire.
UAE’s MoD says a drone struck an electrical generator outside the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in UAE.
Two others were intercepted.
The UAE adds the UAVs came from the western border — no source identified yet. pic.twitter.com/VwZHmNHIwf
— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 17, 2026
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation said the plant continued operating normally, while the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Emirati authorities had informed it that radiation levels remained stable.
“The IAEA is following the situation closely and is in constant contact with the UAE authorities, ready to provide assistance if needed,” the UN nuclear watchdog said.
Footage of such incidents is notoriously scarce because of the UAE’s aggressive crackdown on posting photos or videos that could damage the country’s image as a “safe haven.”
The UAE says a drone attack hit near the Barakah nuclear plant, causing a generator fire but no injuries or safety impact.
Journalist Natasha Turak tells Al Jazeera that the “deliberate” attack fits a pattern of Iranian drone and missile strikes on UAE power infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/pHxtYL2CXx
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 17, 2026
The UAE has faced repeated missile and drone threats during the broader Israel-U.S.-Iran confrontation.
On Friday, the UAE Foreign Ministry rejected what it described as Iranian attempts to justify attacks against the Gulf state, warning that Abu Dhabi reserves its “sovereign, legal, diplomatic, and military rights” to respond to threats or hostile acts.
Officials have not publicly assigned blame for Sunday’s strike, and the UAE said the investigation into the drones’ source remains ongoing.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the UAE was an active combatant in the conflict, having secretly carried out strikes against Iranian targets.
The attacks included a strike on an oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in early April, triggering a major fire and knocking much of the facility offline for months.
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