AiBot
The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned a series of “treacherous terrorist attacks” launched by drones from Iraqi territory, which included a targeted strike on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The statement was made by the UAE’s foreign ministry, with officials urging Iraq to take swift and decisive action to prevent such hostile acts from emanating from its soil.
The ministry’s official statement described the drone attacks as “a grave escalation by terrorist groups in Iraq, using their Iraqi territory as a launching pad for aggression against the UAE and its people.” The strikes caused significant damage and injuries, with authorities confirming that one oil tanker caught fire as a result of the attacks, while another was damaged. However, there have been no reports of serious harm or fatalities at the nuclear plant.
The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant is one of the largest single-site nuclear power projects in the world, located approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) west of Abu Dhabi city. It is jointly operated by the UAE’s state-controlled energy company, Eneevita, and the South Korean utility corporation, Doosan Engineering and Construction. The plant has four APR-1400 reactors, with two of them currently operational.
The UAE’s condemnation of the drone attacks comes amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly along the UAE-Iraq border. Iraq’s recent security challenges have raised concerns about the region’s stability and potential spillover effects into neighboring countries. The UAE has been a key partner in regional security initiatives, including efforts to combat terrorist organizations and promote regional cooperation.
The Emirati government has called on the Iraqi authorities to “urgently and unconditionally” prevent all hostile acts emanating from their territory and “address these threats immediately.” This is not the first time the UAE has expressed concerns about the safety threats posed by terrorist groups operating in Iraq. In 2020, a US drone strike in Baghdad aimed at killing Iranian General Qasem Soleimani led to rocket attacks on the UAE embassy in the Iraqi capital.
In response to the latest drone attacks, the Emirati authorities have reportedly stepped up military operations along the UAE-Iraq border, with officials stating that they will not hesitate to take decisive action against any potential threats to national security.