Drone strikes generator at nuclear power plant in UAE
In a concerning development, a drone strike has targeted a nuclear power facility in the United Arab Emirates. This incident comes just as former President Donald Trump prepares for discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with negotiations involving Iran currently at a standstill, reports Trey Yingst, chief foreign correspondent.
The U.S.-facilitated coalition aimed at curtailing Iran’s influence in the Middle East appears to be under pressure. This strain is noticeable amidst rising tensions between Israel and the UAE, raising concerns about an escalating conflict with Tehran, as noted by analysts on Sunday.
Tensions came to light on May 13 when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced a “historic breakthrough” meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This meeting, reportedly held in secret at Al Ain near the Oman border, was meant to strengthen ties.
However, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly countered this claim with a denial.
The ministry clarified, “The UAE’s relationship with Israel is transparent and was formally established through the Abraham Accords. These relations are not conducted in secrecy or through hidden arrangements.”
Amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza and with Iran, former President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in frequent communication, reportedly speaking several times a week. (Photo credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
It added, “Therefore, any claims regarding undisclosed visits or arrangements are baseless unless issued by the relevant official authorities in the UAE.”
“The stakes are high,” Middle East Institute analyst Natan Sachs told Fox News Digital.
“I imagine the Israelis are working overtime to mend relations with the UAE, but it is too early to tell,” he said.
President Donald Trump spoke with Netanyahu on Sunday as tensions over Iran escalated and with the Israeli leader saying he was “prepared for every scenario.”
The leaders discussed the possibility of renewing the war with Iran as well as Trump’s recent trip to China, according to the Times of Israel.
Sachs, a senior fellow at the institute, said Netanyahu’s UAE meeting claim “seems like a diplomatic blunder because it embarrasses the UAE.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan join President Trump for the Abraham Accords signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Sept. 15, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“This was an odd move to make since the UAE has been a close partner of Israel, even during this war,” Sachs said.
“Either Netanyahu didn’t think, or he was thinking about something else — domestic politics. It would not be the first time he did that.”
“To the degree that the Emirati anger is genuine, it would have meant working to preserve trust with their Gulf Arab ally,” Sachs added.
“I would also not rule out Emirati anger at the leak itself, which could be seen as a break of trust — something very important to the Emirati leadership.”
The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States in 2020, fundamentally altered the regional balance by normalizing relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.
Security cooperation has since expanded significantly due to shared concerns over Iran’s military ambitions.
Foreign workers watch a tall plume of black smoke rising after an explosion in the Fujairah industrial zone on March 3, 2026. Iran’s strikes on Gulf neighbors since Feb. 28, following a U.S.-Israeli attack, forced the UAE to close its airspace, disrupting travel to the region. (Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images)
That alliance was tested when Iran launched strikes against UAE military and energy infrastructure during Operation Epic Fury.
Israel is said to have deployed Iron Dome air-defense systems and personnel to the UAE, according to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The UAE confirmed Sunday that it had intercepted three drones coming from the west.
“The UAE received much of the fire from Iran. It is the most vulnerable to Iranian short-range missiles, which are more plentiful and cheaper than the medium-range missiles fired at Israel,” Sachs said.
“While short-range missiles can be intercepted, Iran has many more of them. The UAE took the most hits, yet it stood out by sticking most clearly to its strategy of open partnership with Israel.”
“But the public disclosure that Netanyahu himself visited may have just been seen as a step too far,” Sachs added.
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