[67592] UAE accuses Iraq of launching drones at nuclear reactor and strategic infrastructure

Security tension in the Gulf: Drones launched from Iraq attacked infrastructure in the Emirates

The UAE Ministry of Defense reported that over the last 48 hours, the country's air defense system dealt with six attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). According to the UAE Ministry of Defense and reports in Al-Arabiya Farsi, all drones were launched from Iraqi territory with the intent to strike strategic infrastructure and civilian areas.

The reports follow an additional attack that occurred on May 17, in which an electricity generator outside the "Barakah" nuclear reactor complex was hit. The UAE Ministry of Defense emphasized that the findings of the technical investigation confirm that in this case, too, the source was Iraq. In addition, Al-Arabiya Farsi noted that the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, presented an urgent report to the UN Security Council, in which he defined the attack on an active nuclear facility as "dangerous and unacceptable."

While most news channels reporting, such as Khabar Fouri, focus on the Emirati statements, the Iranian news agency IRNA – which is identified with the positions of the government in Tehran – chose to cast doubt on the Emirati narrative. IRNA highlighted in its publications the fact that the UAE hosts Israeli defense equipment, and defined the reports as merely "allegations" by the Emirati Ministry of Defense.

Grossi called on all involved parties to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further escalation. As of now, no casualties have been reported in the recent incidents, but regional tension surrounding the defense of strategic facilities in the Persian Gulf has escalated.