Global Alarm Rises After Drone Strike Near UAE Nuclear Facility
Fresh fears over Middle East stability emerged after drones targeted an area near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, prompting strong condemnation from António Guterres.
The UN chief said he was “deeply alarmed” by the incident, warning that attacks involving nuclear facilities are unacceptable and violate international law.
In a statement released from Tokyo, Guterres urged all sides to avoid further escalation and stressed that civilian infrastructure — especially nuclear installations — must never become targets during regional conflicts.
According to Emirati authorities, air defense systems successfully intercepted two drones, while a third struck an electrical generator located outside the plant’s inner security perimeter.
Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported and that the incident did not affect radiological safety levels or pose any danger to the public or the environment.
The drone strike comes amid rising regional instability following military confrontations involving Iran, Israel, and the United States earlier this year.
Tensions sharply escalated after the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran in February, triggering retaliatory strikes by Tehran targeting Israeli positions and Gulf allies, including the UAE.
The conflict also disrupted global shipping routes after Iran temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important oil corridors.
Although a ceasefire was brokered through Pakistani mediation in April, negotiations in Islamabad reportedly failed to secure a permanent peace agreement.
Donald Trump later announced an indefinite extension of the truce, but regional security concerns continue to grow as hostilities threaten critical infrastructure across the Middle East.
International observers warn that attacks near nuclear facilities could dramatically increase geopolitical risks and further destabilize an already volatile region.
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