The United Arab Emirates confirmed Tuesday that three drones which struck the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant last weekend were launched from Iraqi territory. The attack, which hit an electrical generator and caused a fire, marks a significant escalation by Tehran-backed groups in the ongoing regional conflict.
The UAE Defense Ministry said technical tracking confirmed all three drones originated from Iraq. The strike triggered a fire but caused no injuries or radiation leak. Two other drones were intercepted before reaching the facility.
Iraq's government, led by spokesman Bassem al-Awadi, condemned the attack and called for regional cooperation to prevent further escalation. However, Baghdad has struggled to rein in powerful paramilitary groups operating under the Popular Mobilisation Forces umbrella.
US officials report these militias have struck American bases in Iraq more than 600 times since the Iran war began. Among the most active is Kata'ib Hezbollah, a US-designated terrorist organization.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, criticized regional states for adopting a "gray position" during what he called "this treacherous Iranian aggression."
The Barakah plant, which provides about 25% of UAE's electricity, had been listed by Iranian state media as a potential target in March. Iran has been attacking Gulf energy infrastructure since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28.