UAE: Drones that targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant were launched from Iraq
UAE: Drones that targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant were launched from Iraq
2026-05-19
Shafaq News – Abu Dhabi
The UAE Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that it had detected and dealt with six hostile drones in the past 48 hours that attempted to target civilian and vital areas, confirming that the drones that targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant came from Iraq.
The UAE’s state news agency WAM quoted the ministry as saying that the air defense forces successfully intercepted and neutralized hostile targets with the highest levels of readiness and efficiency, without any human losses or impact on the safety of vital facilities.
She added that “the results of the technical tracking and monitoring regarding the investigations related to the blatant attack on the Barakah nuclear power plant on (May 17, 2026) showed that the three drones, two of which were successfully dealt with, while the third hit an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the plant on that date, in addition to the drones that were intercepted later, all came from Iraqi territory.”
The Ministry of Defense affirmed that “the UAE reserves its full right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and national security, in accordance with international laws and conventions.”
The ministry also stressed the “complete readiness of the armed forces to deal with any threats targeting the security of the state and its national assets.”
The UAE announced on Sunday that the Barakah nuclear power plant had been attacked by three drones.
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its concern on Monday regarding reports of three drone attacks targeting facilities in Saudi Arabia, stressing Iraq’s rejection of any threat to the security of brotherly countries.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday evening that it had intercepted and destroyed three drones after they entered the Kingdom’s airspace coming from Iraqi airspace, vowing to take the necessary operational measures to respond at the appropriate time and place.
Saudi Arabia summoned the Iraqi ambassador on April 12, 2026, to protest the attacks launched from Iraqi territory.
It is worth noting that Iraqi armed factions had announced their entry into the war on the side of Iran since its beginning in late February/January.
shafaq.com
