The United Arab Emirates announced that the drones that attacked the Barakah nuclear power plant came from Iraq.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) declared on Tuesday that the drones that attacked the Barakah nuclear power plant on May 17, 2026, were launched from Iraq, according to an investigation by the Ministry of Defense.

The attack occurred in the context of rising tensions in the region, with Iran-backed groups carrying out attacks in the Persian Gulf. On Monday, the UAE reported that air defense systems intercepted two of the three drones, but the third struck an electric generator, causing a fire. Although the attack was not claimed, the UAE did not directly accuse Iran, despite having had disputes with it previously.

The Barakah plant, located 200 km west of Abu Dhabi, reported no casualties and did not affect radiological safety, according to authorities. Rafael Grossi, the director of the IAEA, expressed concerns about nuclear safety following this incident.