Anwar Gargash, advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates, has accused Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq of carrying out strikes on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, describing the incident as a dangerous sign of escalating regional threats.
Gargash said the alleged attack on a peaceful nuclear energy facility reflects a “lack of a nation-state” and clear violations of international law.
“Like kidnappings and acts of piracy in the Strait of Hormuz, the attack on Barakah is a criminal act and a direct violation of international law.
From Hormuz to Barakah, the threat extends to the entire international order and reflects a mentality of chaos and blackmail that ignores the safety of people, international law, and the stability of the global economy, seeking to preserve its existence and impose an aggressive logic,” Gargash wrote on social media platform X.
On May 17, 2026, a drone struck the outer perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant near Abu Dhabi, with UAE officials reporting that one drone hit an external power generator located outside the facility’s main security zone, triggering a fire.
The plant itself sustained no direct damage, and authorities confirmed that there was no radiation leak while all nuclear safety systems continued to operate normally.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was closely tracking the situation and called for maximum caution around nuclear sites amid escalating regional tensions, while UAE officials attributed the incident to wider regional drone activity linked to the ongoing Iran-related conflict, though no party has claimed responsibility.
By Jeyhun Aghazada
