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Iranian-backed drone strike targets UAE nuclear facility

The regime in Tehran continues its campaign of regional terror as a drone strikes near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant.

Foreign PolicyPublished May 17, 2026 at 8:53 PMProcessed May 17, 2026 at 9:51 PM
A large sand-coloured building in the UAE called the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. In the centre is a large dome while rectangular shaped sections of the building lie to the left, right, and in front of the dome. The sky behind is blue with a few white clouds.

The United Arab Emirates is under fire, quite literally, as a drone strike hit an electrical generator outside the perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday. While the UAE defense ministry successfully intercepted two of the three drones launched from the western border, the third managed to strike its target, causing a fire.

Thankfully, there were no injuries and the facility remains operational, but the message from the hostile actors behind this attack is clear: no infrastructure is off-limits.

The UAE foreign ministry rightly condemned the strike as a flagrant violation of international law and an unacceptable act of aggression, asserting its sovereign right to respond to such hostilities. This incident follows a pattern of Iranian-backed provocations against energy and economic infrastructure in the region.

As the regime in Tehran continues to lash out in response to necessary American and Israeli defensive actions, the stability of the Middle East remains under constant threat. President Trump has correctly identified that the current ceasefire is hanging by a thread, especially as Iran continues to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage.

The UAE has vowed to firmly confront any attempts to undermine its national security, a stance that is not only justified but essential in the face of such blatant disregard for global safety.

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foreign-policyuaeirannational-securitymiddle-east

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