Monday, May 18Monday, May 18The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported a drone attack targeting the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra region on May 17, 2026. The UAE Ministry of Defense confirmed that its air defenses intercepted three drones entering the country from the western border, with two successfully neutralized. The third drone struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the plant, causing a fire but resulting in no reported injuries . The Barakah plant, located 200 km west of Abu Dhabi near the borders with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, began operations in 2020 .
In the days leading up to the attack, the U.S. Air Force conducted aerial refueling operations over the UAE, involving a KC-135R Stratotanker from the Kansas Air National Guard and two F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets armed with AIM-9X air-to-air missiles . The timing of these operations, just days before the drone strike, has not been explicitly linked to the incident, but the presence of advanced U.S. air assets in the region underscores heightened military readiness.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the origin of the drones remains unconfirmed. The incident follows a pattern of drone and missile threats in the Gulf region, particularly from Iran-backed groups, though no direct evidence ties this attack to Iran or other state actors . The UAE has not publicly attributed the strike to any specific entity.
🇦🇪- UAE MoD announces its air defenses engaged 3 drones that entered the country from the western border today, where two were successfully intercepted while the third struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra area. @GeoPWatch
telegram bot · about 10 hours ago
🇨🇺❌🇺🇸- According to classified intelligence shared with Axios, Cuba has acquired more than 300 drones and has begun internally discussing plans to potentially use them against the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, American naval vessels, and possibly Key West, Florida. ➡️ Since 2023, the variously capable drones have been purchased from Iran and Russia and are kept in key locations throughout the island. Cuban officials have asked Russia for more drones and military hardware in the last month. ➡️ U.S. officials also note the presence of Iranian military advisers in Havana, as well as Russian and Chinese signals intelligence facilities on the island. ➡️ Up to 5,000 Cuban soldiers are estimated to have fought for Russia in Ukraine, with Russia paying approximately $25,000 per soldier deployed. Some of those soldiers are believed to have briefed Cuban military leaders on the effectiveness of drone warfare. @GeoPWatch
telegram bot · about 11 hours ago
JUST IN: 🇦🇪 Fire breaks out outside Abu Dhabi Barakah nuclear power plant following drone strike. @BRICSNews
telegram bot · about 12 hours ago
JUST IN - Cuba acquires over 300 military drones and is reportedly discussing plans to use them to attack U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, U.S. military vessels and possibly Key West. @disclosetv
telegram bot · about 12 hours ago
🇮🇷❌🇦🇪- Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra has been attacked by a drone. The drone impacted the electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the plant, no injuries have been reported yet. @GeoPWatch
telegram bot · about 12 hours ago
🇺🇸🇺🇸- Images of a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker from the Kansas Air National Guards 190th Air Refueling Wing, also known as the Kansas Coyotes, refueling two U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets above the United Arab Emirates on May 11th. The jets are armed with 2x AIM-9X air-to-air missiles. @GeoPWatch
telegram bot · about 12 hours ago
🇺🇸🇺🇸- Footage of the aerial refueling operations above the UAE on May 11th, which involved a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker from the Kansas Air National Guards 190th Air Refueling Wing, also known as the Kansas Coyotes, and two U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets armed with 2x AIM-9X air-to-air missiles. @GeoPWatch
telegram bot · about 12 hours ago
⚡️#BREAKING A drone strike caused a fire outside a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE authorities say
telegram bot · about 12 hours ago
Exclusive: U.S. eyes attack-drone threat from Cuba Cuba has acquired more than 300 military drones and recently began discussing plans to use them to attack the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, U.S. military vessels and possibly Key West, Fla., 90 miles north of Havana, according to classified intelligence shared with Axios.Why it matters: The intelligence — which could become a pretext for U.S. military action — shows the degree to which the Trump administration sees Cuba as a threat because of developments in drone warfare and the presence of Iranian military advisers in Havana, a senior U.S. official said.When we think about those types of technologies being that close, and a range of bad actors from terror groups to drug cartels to Iranians to the Russians, its concerning, the official said.Its a growing threat.Driving the news: CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Cuba on Thursday and bluntly warned officials there against engaging in hostilities. He also urged them to scrap their totalitarian government to end crippling U.S. sanctions, a CIA official told Axios.Director Ratcliffe made clear that Cuba can no longer serve as a platform for adversaries to advance hostile agendas in our hemisphere, that official said.The Western Hemisphere cannot be our adversaries playground.On Wednesday, the Department of Justice plans to unseal an indictment of Cubas de facto leader, Raul Castro, for allegedly ordering the 1996 downing of a plane flown by a Miami-based aid group called Brothers to the Rescue.More sanctions against the island nation could be announced this week.A spokesperson for Cuba could not be reached Saturday for comment.Zoom in: Cuba has been acquiring attack drones of varying capabilities from Russia and Iran since 2023, and has stashed them in strategic locations across the island, U.S. officials say.Within the past month, Cuban officials have sought more drones and military equipment from Russia, the senior U.S. official said. The official cited intelligence intercepts that also indicated Cuban intelligence officials are trying to learn about how Iran has resisted us.Russia and China have high-tech espionage facilities for collecting signals intelligence (called SIGINT) in Cuba.Weve long been concerned that a foreign adversary using that kind of location that close to our shores is highly problematic, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Miami Republican, during a congressional hearing Tuesday. In response to Diaz-Balart, Hegseth also confirmed Castros complicity in ordering the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown.The big picture: The concerns about drone attacks on U.S. forces have been heightened by Irans use of the unmanned aircraft in its response to the U.S. attacks that began Feb. 28. Irans drones have damaged American bases in the Middle East, helped close the Strait of Hormuz and menaced neighboring Persian Gulf states, along with missile attacks.U.S. officials estimate that as many as 5,000 Cuban soldiers have fought for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, and that some informed the islands military leaders about the effectiveness of drone warfare. Russia has paid Cubas government about $25,000 for each soldier deployed in Ukraine, U.S. officials estimate.Theyre part of the Putin meat grinder. Theyre learning about Iranian tactics. Its something we have to plan for, the senior official said.Zoom out: The Castro regime is closer than ever to falling since it seized power in the 1959 revolution that brought it into conflict with the U.S., thanks largely to U.S. sanctions and the Marxist regimes financial mismanagement.Cuba is classified as a state sponsor of terror by the U.S. and its considered the head of the snake, exporting revolutionary Marxism throughout Latin America.One former Cuban ally, Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro, was removed from power in a Jan. 3 raid by the U.S. Since Maduros ouster, the U.S. has begun normalizing relations with Venezuela — and learned more about Cubas drone program.Reality check: U.S. officials dont believe Cuba is an imminent threat, or actively planning to attack American interests. But U.S intelligence indicates the islands military officials have been discussing drone warfare plans in case hostilities erupt as relations with the U.S. continue to deteriorate.Cuba doesnt have the ability to close the Straits of Florida in the same way Iran has brought shipping to a standstill in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. officials also dont believe Cuba is as much of a military threat as it was during the 1962 Cuban Missile CrisisNo ones worried about fighter jets from Cuba. Its not even clear they have one that can fly, the senior U.S. official said.But its worth noting how close they are — 90 miles, the official added. Its not a reality we are comfortable with.
axios · about 12 hours ago
Drone strike starts fire outside UAE nuclear plant The plant began operations in 2020 and is 200km west of the UAEs capital Abu Dhabi, near the borders with Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
thejournal · about 12 hours ago
Racheta cu 2 kilograme de explozibil căzută în județul Tulcea ar putea fi rusească sau ucraineană Proiectilul neexplodat care a fost găsit, sâmbătă, în curtea unei proprietăți nelocuite din localitatea Pardina, județul Tulcea, a fost detonat controlat, a anunțat Ministerul Apărării Naționale.
adevarul · about 17 hours ago
Proiectilul neexplodat descoperit pe o proprietate din Tulcea a fost detonat controlat Proiectilul neexplodat care a fost găsit, sâmbătă, în curtea unei proprietăți nelocuite din localitatea Pardina, județul Tulcea, a fost detonat controlat, a anunțat Ministerul Apărării Naționale.
adevarul · about 18 hours ago