The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it is providing technical assistance and related support to the United Arab Emirates following a drone attack on a nuclear power plant in the country.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday, June 2, after visiting the Barakah nuclear power plant, that Emirati officials responded quickly after the incident and shut down one of the reactors due to a loss of external power.
According to Grossi, the plant, the first commercial nuclear power station in the Arab world, was targeted last month in a drone attack that UAE officials say originated from Iraqi territory.
He added that one of the drones hit a power generator outside the inner perimeter of the facility, while two others were intercepted by the UAE’s defense systems.
The IAEA chief said repair and restoration work on the damaged sections has already begun and will likely take several weeks.
He also said that maintaining an external power line is essential in addition to technical repairs.
UAE officials had previously stressed that the Barakah plant remains safe after the attack and that no radioactive material was released as a result of the incident.