New Delhi : India on Monday voiced deep concern over the reported drone strike near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), describing the incident as a “dangerous escalation” and calling for restraint and diplomacy amid rising tensions in West Asia.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the attack targeting the nuclear facility and stressed the need for dialogue to prevent further escalation in the region.
“India is deeply concerned at the attack targeting the Barakah nuclear facility in the UAE. Such actions are unacceptable and represent a dangerous escalation. We urgently call for restraint and a return to dialogue and diplomacy,” the MEA said.
The reaction came a day after a drone strike triggered a fire at an electrical generator located outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra region of the UAE.
According to UAE authorities, emergency response teams quickly contained the fire, and no injuries or radiation leaks were reported. Officials said the incident did not impact the plant’s operational safety or nuclear systems.
The UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation confirmed that all units at the facility were functioning normally and that there was no threat to public or environmental safety.
In a separate update posted on X, Abu Dhabi’s media office stated that the fire was confined to an external area outside the plant’s inner security perimeter. Authorities reassured residents that radiation levels remained normal and there was no impact on radiological safety.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also expressed “grave concern” over the incident. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said any military activity threatening nuclear facilities was “unacceptable” and warned against actions that could increase the risk of a nuclear accident.
“The IAEA has been informed by the UAE that radiation levels at the Barakah NPP remain normal and no injuries were reported after a drone strike caused a fire in an electrical generator located outside the inner site perimeter of the NPP,” the agency said in a statement.
The IAEA added that emergency diesel generators were currently supplying power to Unit 3 of the plant and that it remained in constant contact with UAE authorities while monitoring the situation closely.
No group has claimed responsibility for the strike so far, and UAE authorities have not officially blamed any country or organisation for the attack.
The incident comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in West Asia and growing concerns that the fragile ceasefire involving Iran, Israel and the United States could collapse. Analysts view the strike as a significant escalation, marking the first reported attack targeting the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant during the ongoing regional conflict.
The Barakah facility, the Arab world’s first operational nuclear power plant, is considered a cornerstone of the UAE’s long-term energy strategy. Built with support from South Korea at an estimated cost of $20 billion, the plant became operational in 2020 and currently houses four nuclear reactors.
