Drones that struck the Emirates' only nuclear power plant last week were launched from Iraqi territory, the UAE said on Tuesday, pointing to a significant escalation by Tehran-backed groups in a war that has repeatedly targeted Gulf energy infrastructure.
On Sunday, an unclaimed drone struck an electrical generator near the Gulf's only nuclear power plant in Barakah in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, triggering a fire but causing no injuries or radiation leak. Two other drones had been intercepted.
Barakah is near the borders with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and the strike raised fears of consequences across the Gulf.
"As part of the ongoing investigation into the blatant attack on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on 17 May 2026, technical tracking and monitoring confirmed that the three drones ... all originated from Iraqi territory," the Emirati defence ministry said.
On Monday, the UAE said that it was investigating what it called “an unprovoked terrorist attack,” stating that the drone that struck near Barakah “entered the country’s territory from the western border direction.” It did not name the possible culprit at the time.
