Drone Strike Sparks Fire Near UAE Nuclear Plant as Regional Tensions Escalate

Mintesinot Niggusie

A drone strike caused a fire near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, striking an electrical generator outside the facility’s inner perimeter, according to Emirati officials, who said radiological safety levels remained unaffected.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office said the incident did not result in any injuries and confirmed that the fire was contained after the generator was hit. The plant’s operational safety, including radiation monitoring systems, was not compromised, it said.

The UAE defence ministry said two additional drones were intercepted and “successfully” neutralised. It added that the aircraft involved were launched from the “western border,” without providing further details on the origin or actors behind the attack. Authorities said investigations were under way to determine the source of the strike.

An adviser to the UAE president described the incident as a dangerous escalation, regardless of whether it was carried out by “the principal perpetrator” or its proxies. Officials also said the country retained the right to respond to what they called “terrorist attacks.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency said emergency diesel generators were supplying power to unit three at the plant following the disruption. The agency said it was monitoring the situation closely and urged “maximum military restraint” around nuclear facilities. The incident unfolded as US President Donald Trump warned that Iran must act “fast” after efforts to de-escalate tensions linked to the U.S.-Israeli conflict appeared to stall, adding a wider geopolitical dimension to the developments surrounding the Gulf region.

Barakah, the UAE’s first nuclear power facility, remained stable following the strike, according to officials.