A drone strike hit the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region on May 17, marking what may be the first deliberate attack on a commercial nuclear facility in the Middle East. The UAE immediately labeled it a terrorist act.
One drone struck an external electricity generator, causing a contained fire. Two additional drones were intercepted before reaching their targets. No injuries were reported, radiation levels stayed normal, and plant operations continued without disruption.
The UAE’s Defense Ministry confirmed all three drones originated from Iraqi territory, pointing to Iran-backed militias as the suspected perpetrators. The UN Security Council unanimously condemned the strike, with nations including Saudi Arabia, India, and Canada issuing statements calling it an unacceptable act against peaceful nuclear infrastructure.
What happened at Barakah
The Barakah plant is not some minor installation. Developed in partnership with South Korean firms at a cost of $20 billion, it began commercial operations around 2020-2021 and now supplies approximately 25% of the UAE’s total electricity needs. Attacking it is roughly the equivalent of trying to knock out a quarter of a country’s power grid in one shot.
