UAE: Fire at Power Generator Near Barakah Power Plant After Drone Attack

Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the capital Abu Dhabi (WAM)
Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the capital Abu Dhabi (WAM)
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UAE: Fire at Power Generator Near Barakah Power Plant After Drone Attack

Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the capital Abu Dhabi (WAM)
Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the capital Abu Dhabi (WAM)

The UAE announced that authorities had responded to a fire that broke out in an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi following a drone strike, confirming that no injuries were reported and that there was no impact on radiological safety levels.

Authorities said all necessary precautionary measures were taken immediately after the incident, adding that specialized emergency response teams succeeded in containing and extinguishing the fire while continuing to monitor developments and implement measures to ensure the safety of the site and surrounding areas.

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) said the fire had not affected the safety of the plant or the readiness of its core systems, adding that all units at the facility were operating normally and in line with the highest approved standards of safety and security.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said Sunday that air defense systems had dealt with three drones that entered the country’s airspace from the western border area, noting that two of them were successfully intercepted while the third struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra.

In a statement, the ministry said investigations were ongoing to determine the source of the attacks, adding that further details would be announced once inquiries were completed.

The ministry stressed that the armed forces remained fully prepared to confront any potential threats and would respond firmly to anything that could undermine the country’s security and stability, ensuring the protection of national sovereignty and the UAE’s strategic interests.



Bahrain Suspends Entry of Foreign Travelers Arriving from Three Countries Amid Ebola Fears

A view of Bahrain's capital Manama. (Getty Images file)
A view of Bahrain's capital Manama. (Getty Images file)
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Bahrain Suspends Entry of Foreign Travelers Arriving from Three Countries Amid Ebola Fears

A view of Bahrain's capital Manama. (Getty Images file)
A view of Bahrain's capital Manama. (Getty Images file)

Bahrain said on Tuesday it was suspending the entry of foreign travelers arriving from South Sudan, ‌the Democratic ‌Republic of ‌Congo ⁠and Uganda due ⁠to the Ebola virus outbreak.

The suspension will be effective for ⁠30 days ‌starting Tuesday, ‌according to ‌the country's ‌state news agency.

The World Health Organization expressed deep ‌concern on Tuesday at the speed ⁠and ⁠scale of the Ebola outbreak, as the number of cases rises.


UAE Says Drones Targeting Nuclear Plant Came from Iraq

The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi Skyline following a reported Iranian strike, March 1, 2026. (AFP)
The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi Skyline following a reported Iranian strike, March 1, 2026. (AFP)
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UAE Says Drones Targeting Nuclear Plant Came from Iraq

The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi Skyline following a reported Iranian strike, March 1, 2026. (AFP)
The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi Skyline following a reported Iranian strike, March 1, 2026. (AFP)

The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday said drones that targeted its nuclear plant last week came from Iraq, from where Iranian-backed groups have launched several attacks since the Middle East war began.

On Sunday, an unclaimed drone struck an electrical generator near the Arab world's only nuclear power plant in Barakah in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, triggering a fire but causing no injuries or radiation leak. Two other drones had been intercepted.

"As part of the ongoing investigation into the blatant attack on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on May 17, 2026, technical tracking and monitoring confirmed that the three drones... all originated from Iraqi territory," the Emirati defense ministry said.

Authorities intercepted six drones that also came from Iraq and "attempted to target civilian and vital areas" in the past 48 hours, the ministry added.

Iraqi authorities had already condemned the attack on Barakah before Abu Dhabi announced where the drones came from.

Iran has attacked the UAE and other Gulf nations since the US and Israel launched strikes on the country on February 28, targeting US assets but also energy and civilian infrastructure.

Iran-backed groups in Iraq have not claimed any strikes since the truce came into place, though Gulf countries have reported attacks from Iraq.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia had reported intercepting drones that came from Iraq, while Baghdad said its defense systems had not detected any drones launched from its territory toward the Kingdom.


Saudi Govt: Kingdom Won’t Hesitate to Take Measures to Protect its Security

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt: Kingdom Won’t Hesitate to Take Measures to Protect its Security

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday that the Kingdom will never hesitate in taking all measures to protect its security and stability and safety of its citizens and residents.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session that was held in Jeddah.

The Cabinet praised the advanced capabilities of the armed forces in defending the homeland and safeguarding its assets and resources.

The Cabinet was briefed on the two telephone calls of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during which they discussed areas of cooperation and regional and international developments, as well as efforts aimed at strengthening security and stability in the region.

The Cabinet expressed its support for the outcomes of the emergency meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) interior ministers held in Riyadh, which stressed that Gulf security is indivisible, underlining the importance of strengthening coordination to address current challenges and developments in the region.

It reviewed the progress of preparations for this year’s Hajj and the achievements of the Pilgrim Experience Program. This includes ongoing coordination and integration among government entities, as well as efforts to boost services provided to pilgrims through the deployment of human, technological, and organizational resources across Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites. These efforts have strengthened the greater operational readiness, ensuring the highest levels of comfort and care for pilgrims arriving from within the Kingdom and abroad.

The Cabinet commended the efforts of the Ministry of Interior and other government agencies, along with the follow-up of the Supreme Hajj Committee, in facilitating the arrival of pilgrims to the Grand Mosque from their countries through the continued implementation of the Makkah Route Initiative.

In its eighth consecutive year, the initiative has benefited more than 1.2 million pilgrims to date and has expanded to 10 countries and 17 international entry points, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing the quality of services provided to pilgrims.

Moreover, the Cabinet highlighted the establishment of the Saudi-Spanish Strategic Partnership Council, saying it is an important step toward elevating bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in promising economic and investment sectors.