UAE condemns ‘unprovoked terrorist attack’ after drone strike near nuclear facility

OAN Staff Addie Davis
1:56 PM – Sunday, May 17, 2026

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced a drone attack on the country’s Barakah Nuclear Power Plant.

The MOD stated that two of the three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that entered the UAE on Sunday from the western border were successfully intercepted, but the third struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the plant in the Al Dhafra Region.

“The United Arab Emirates has condemned in the strongest terms the unprovoked terrorist attack targeting an electricity generator,” the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Sunday.

 

The ministry noted that no injuries were reported from the strike, and that radiation levels were not impacted.

“These attacks constitute a dangerous escalation, an unacceptable act of aggression, and a direct threat to the country’s security,” it continued.

Investigations will be carried out to determine the source of the attacks, and the MOD said it would provide further details when those are completed.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office said authorities responded to a fire that broke out at an electrical generator near the facility, but reiterated that no injuries were reported and radiological safety levels were not impacted. It also stated that the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) confirmed that the safety of the plant and the readiness of its essential systems were not affected and that “all units are operating as normal.”

According to the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC), the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant provides around 25% of the country’s electricity needs, making it the UAE’s largest source of electricity.

In a Saturday statement, the MoFA highlighted the number of attacks against the Gulf nation carried out by Iran.

“The UAE has condemned in the strongest terms the unprovoked Iranian attacks and threats targeting the UAE and countries across the region, which included the launch of nearly 3,000 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones toward the UAE,” the ministry stated. “These attacks resulted in civilian casualties and injuries, as well as damage to civilian infrastructure, constituting a clear violation of state sovereignty and a direct threat to the security and stability of the region.”

On February 28^th, the United States, in partnership with Israel, carried out strikes against Iran in a campaign known as Operation Epic Fury. This prompted the Islamic Republic to launch a slew of retaliatory strikes across the region, drawing international condemnation for the seeming reckless disregard for civilian infrastructure, especially in neighboring countries uninvolved with the conflict.

Though the UAE MoFA did not attribute a source to the most recent attacks, it stressed that targeting a peaceful nuclear energy facility was a violation of international law, as it poses grave risks to civilians, the environment, and regional and international security.

“The UAE emphasized that it will not tolerate any threat to its security and sovereignty under any circumstances,” the ministry stated.

“The Ministry further underscored that targeting vital and civilian infrastructure is unequivocally condemned and rejected under all legal and humanitarian norms, underscoring the need to immediately halt these unprovoked attacks and ensure full compliance with the cessation of all hostilities,” it continued.

A fragile ceasefire has held between the United States and Iran since early April, but a permanent peace deal has not yet been agreed to. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to again warn the Islamic Republic of the consequences should a deal not be reached.

“For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” Trump warned.

Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts

Sponsored Content Below

Share this post!