Post by : Badri Ariffin

The United Nations nuclear watchdog's head has cautioned that a direct strike on the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE threatens serious radioactive implications for the region.

During an urgent UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi referred to the circumstances as “extremely troubling” following a drone strike in proximity to the nuclear site.

Situated approximately 300 kilometers from Abu Dhabi city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Barakah nuclear facility is currently operational and houses significant quantities of nuclear materials, both fresh and spent.

Grossi highlighted that an impact on the facility could lead to a major release of radioactive substances into the environment.

“This nuclear installation is in a highly sensitive region, where results of an attack could be catastrophic,” he remarked to the Security Council.

The IAEA director also indicated that damage to the facility's external power supply could pose considerable safety hazards, potentially leading to reactor core complications.

He noted that any such catastrophic events would necessitate urgent safety protocols, including evacuations, sheltering local residents, and distributing stable iodine tablets to those living within several hundred kilometers of the site.

This warning followed UAE officials' confirmation of a fire incident near the Barakah nuclear plant due to a drone strike on Sunday.

Tensions in the region have escalated recently after military actions involving the United States and Israel targeted Iran in February. In retaliation, Iran launched counterattacks aimed at Israel and various US allies in the Gulf, including the UAE, and threatened to close the vital Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire agreement took effect on April 8 following mediation by Pakistan, but subsequent discussions in Islamabad failed to secure a lasting resolution. US President Donald Trump later announced that the truce would be indefinitely prolonged.

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