https://arab.news/6fcgh
- UN chief Antonio Guterres says drone attack provides another reason for all parties to cease hostilities completely
- Kuwait, Bahrain, Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab League chiefs also expressed condemnation
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has condemned a drone attack that targeted an electricity generator in the UAE located outside the perimeter of the Barakah nuclear energy plant in the Al-Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi.
The Foreign Ministry said the attack threatens regional security and stability, and expressed its solidarity with the UAE and support for all measures to preserve its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he has consistently warned against any “further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East,” and the drone attack provided another reason for all parties to cease hostilities completely.
“There must be no further attacks near civilian infrastructure, including nuclear power plants. Attacks to nuclear installations are totally unacceptable, a violation of international law and must be condemned,” Guterres said in a statement.
The foreign ministries of Kuwait and Bahrain, along with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, also condemned the attack.
The Gulf Cooperation Council’s Secretary-General, Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, similarly condemned the ‘treacherous’ attack on the UAE nuclear power plant affirmed the group’s solidarity with Abu Dhabi.
Kuwait said targeting peaceful nuclear energy facilities is a clear violation of international law and poses a risk to civilians, the environment and security.
Bahrain reaffirmed its solidarity with the UAE and praised Abu Dhabi’s air defense forces for their response to the threat.
Oman expressed its solidarity with the UAE in taking measures to preserve the security and the safety of its territories, and the same time called for dialogue to address issues and preserve regional stability.
Aboul Gheit expressed relief after statements from the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation that the fire caused by the attack had been contained.
The authority “confirmed that the fire did not affect the safety of the power plant or the readiness of its essential systems, and that all units are operating as normal.”
The UAE did not specify who launched the drone or its territory of origin.
The attack occurred during a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran as nearly 40 nations prepare efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed since late February, disrupting oil and gas markets.