18 May,2026 11:42 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/AFP
India on Monday strongly condemned the drone attack targeting the Barakah nuclear power facility in the United Arab Emirates, describing the incident as a "dangerous escalation" and urging all sides to exercise restraint and return to dialogue.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India expressed concern over the attack and stressed that targeting nuclear infrastructure posed serious risks to regional stability and civilian safety.
"We are 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 after the UAE confirmed that a drone attack had targeted an electricity generator located outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra region.
Authorities in the UAE stated that the incident caused no damage to the nuclear facility itself and did not affect plant operations. However, the country strongly condemned the strike, calling it a "terrorist attack" and a direct threat to national security.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack marked a serious escalation and violated international law, including principles related to the protection of civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities.
According to the UAE, targeting civilian nuclear infrastructure violates the UN Charter, humanitarian law and international agreements governing nuclear safety and security.
The ministry stressed that international standards laid down by the International Atomic Energy Agency clearly require the protection of peaceful nuclear facilities from military threats or hostile actions.
The UAE also reiterated that it would not tolerate threats to its sovereignty or security and reserved the right to respond through diplomatic, legal or military measures in accordance with international law.
Officials further stated that attacks on vital civilian infrastructure are unacceptable under humanitarian norms and called for an immediate halt to hostilities.
The Barakah nuclear facility holds strategic significance as the first and only operational nuclear power plant on the Arabian Peninsula.
The USD 20 billion project was developed by the UAE in partnership with South Korean companies and officially became operational in 2020. The facility is considered a key part of the UAE's long-term clean energy strategy and regional energy security framework.
The incident has renewed concerns over the increasing targeting of nuclear-related infrastructure in conflict zones across the world. Experts have warned that attacks on such facilities carry the risk of environmental contamination, civilian casualties and wider geopolitical instability.
The issue gained global attention during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where repeated military activity around Ukrainian nuclear facilities raised fears of a nuclear disaster.
Similar concerns have also emerged in the ongoing tensions involving Iran, which has previously claimed that its Bushehr nuclear facility was targeted in hostile actions. However, those incidents reportedly caused no structural damage or radioactive leakage.
India's statement reflects growing international concern over the potential consequences of military escalation involving critical energy infrastructure in West Asia.
New Delhi has consistently called for peaceful resolution of regional conflicts through diplomacy and dialogue while maintaining close strategic ties with the UAE and other Gulf nations.
