ABU DHABI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Defense said Sunday its air defense systems intercepted three drones that entered UAE airspace from the western border area.
The ministry said two of the drones were successfully intercepted, while the third struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant in the Al Dhafra region.
An investigation is underway to determine the source of the attack, the ministry said.
Earlier in the day, Abu Dhabi authorities reported that a drone strike had caused a fire in an electrical generator near the Barakah nuclear power plant. Authorities said the fire was brought under control, with no injuries or impact on radiological safety levels reported.
Barakah is central to the UAE's clean energy goals. The plant began full commercial operations in September 2024 and generates approximately 40 terawatt-hours of clean electricity annually, supplying about 25 percent of the country's electricity needs, according to local media reports. ■
