The United Arab Emirates says drones that targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant were launched from Iraqi territory. The UAE’s Defense Ministry attributes the origin of the unmanned aerial vehicles to Iraq, adding to concerns about Iranian-backed armed groups operating from the region. No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack, and the sources report that suspicions often focus on Tehran and its militia proxies, which have been linked to prior drone attacks against Gulf states. Several outlets describe the UAE statement as an indication that Shiite militias backed by Iran could be involved, while also noting the lack of an official claimant.
In addition, at least one outlet reports that the UAE called on Iraq to investigate the incident and to take steps to prevent Iranian proxies from using Iraqi territory as a launch point for future attacks. The reports reference broader regional context, including drone strikes in the Middle East attributed to Iranian-aligned groups during heightened tensions related to the Israel-Iran and U.S.-involved conflict. The UAE statement remains the primary basis for conclusions about where the drones originated.
