UAE authorities said emergency services quickly contained a fire near the Barakah nuclear power plant, located about 280 kilometers west of the capital Abu Dhabi. According to an official statement, the blaze did not affect plant operations or nuclear safety. However, officials did not provide details on the cause of the fire.
Earlier, sources from the Houthi rebel group in Yemen claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting the Barakah area. The group has repeatedly vowed to continue military operations deep inside UAE territory in retaliation for the Saudi-led military coalition's intervention in Yemen.
The Barakah plant, the UAE's first nuclear power facility, began operations in 2020. While the UAE's nuclear energy authority insists the reactors are completely safe and unaffected by the incident, the event has raised fresh concerns about the security of this strategic energy site amid regional instability. UAE authorities are now investigating the exact cause of the fire.
