The UAE Ministry of Defence announced that on May 17, 2026, UAE air defenses engaged three drones that entered the country from the western border. Two drones were successfully neutralized, while the third struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra region. The ministry stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the attacks and that updates will be provided after the investigations conclude. The Ministry of Defence affirmed its readiness and preparedness to deal with any threats and to firmly confront anything that aims to destabilize the state, ensuring the preservation of its sovereignty, security, stability, and national interests.