UAE reports strike near Abu Dhabi nuclear power plant

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said a drone strike had triggered a fire on Sunday near its nuclear power station, calling the incident a "dangerous escalation". Officials are investigating the source of the strike. The country's defence ministry said three drones had entered the UAE from the "western border direction". Two drones were intercepted, but the third drone struck an electrical generator "outside the inner perimeter" of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi, sparking a fire.

No injuries were reported, and there was no impact on radiological safety levels. The UAE's foreign ministry called the strike an "unacceptable act of aggression" and said it had the right to respond to any hostilities. The ministry added that "the targeting of peaceful nuclear energy facilities is a flagrant violation of international law, the UN charter, and the principles of humanitarian law". The country's defence ministry said it would "firmly confront any attempts to undermine the country's security". The Abu Dhabi Media Office said the fire "broke out in an electric generator" and confirmed precautionary measures had been taken at the plant, which is operating as normal.

The UN's nuclear watchdog said it was monitoring the situation closely and that its director general, Rafael Grossi, expressed "grave concern" about the incident. Grossi said "military activity that threatens nuclear safety is unacceptable", and called for "maximum military restraint". Also on Sunday, Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said it had intercepted and destroyed three drones which had entered its airspace from Iraq. Tehran began launching strikes across the region in retaliation to the US and Israel's attacks against Iran on February 28. The US and Iran agreed a ceasefire in April, but sporadic exchanges of fire have continued. President Donald Trump said the truce was on "massive life support" on Monday, after rejecting Iran's demands to