UAE: Drones targeting Barakah nuclear power plant were launched from Iraq

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense said the drones involved in the May 17 air raid were launched from Iraq. There are Shiite groups affiliated with Iran in Iraq.

“During the ongoing investigation into the brazen attack on the Barakah nuclear power plant on May 17, 2026, technical tracking has confirmed that all three drones were launched from Iraq,” the statement said.

Let us recall that two UAVs were intercepted; one struck an electric generator located outside the internal perimeter of the nuclear power plant. A fire broke out at the scene, but there were no casualties. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it would provide assistance to the UAE if necessary.

On the morning of May 18, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense announced the interception of three unmanned aerial vehicles that had entered the kingdom’s airspace from Iraq.

Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE refrained from directly blaming Iran. However, despite the ceasefire remaining in force, the ayatollah regime continues to provoke provocations in the Persian Gulf region, attacking US-allied states.