UAE Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Hit by Drone Attack, Fire Erupts... IAEA: "No Radiation Leak"

No Casualties Reported
UAE Has Yet to Identify Perpetrators of Attack

AFP Yonhap News

A fire broke out at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), following a drone attack. Fortunately, investigations have found no radiation leak or casualties.

On the 17th (local time), the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office announced that a fire had occurred at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. The media office explained, "A fire broke out at a generator located outside the internal perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra region due to a drone attack, prompting an emergency response. So far, there have been no reported casualties from the fire, and it has been confirmed that there was no impact on radiation safety levels." The power plant is located approximately 280 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi and about 60 to 70 kilometers in a straight line from the western border.

The UAE Ministry of Defense also stated that "two drones heading toward the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant were successfully intercepted, but one remaining drone struck a generator near the plant," and added that "these drones entered from the direction of the western border." However, the ministry did not specify who was responsible for the drone attack. The Ministry of Defense noted, "We will provide further details after completing investigations into the launch site and related matters." The Iranian side has neither confirmed nor denied the UAE government's announcement regarding the attack on the power plant.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also stated that there were no casualties or radiation leaks as a result of the incident, but expressed concern about the attack on the nuclear plant. The IAEA emphasized, "Director General Rafael Grossi expressed serious concern over the incident and declared that military activities threatening nuclear safety are unacceptable." Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, also spoke with Director General Grossi, stating, "The UAE has full authority to respond to this terrorist attack" and added, "We will take all necessary measures under international law to protect the country's security, territorial integrity, and citizens."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.