A recent fire incident at Damietta Port in Egypt involving two ships was determined to have been caused by a drone strike, as per the Egyptian government. The attack, which targeted the liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub, has not been claimed by any party yet.
Authorities are actively investigating the situation and have pledged to take necessary actions to safeguard Egypt’s interests and national security. The fire reportedly originated on a US-owned floating storage and regasification vessel, Energos Winter, following a drone impact. Subsequently, the fire spread to a nearby Greek-owned LNG tanker named GasLog Salem.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries as a result of the fires, according to Egypt’s oil ministry. The Egyptian Cabinet released a statement acknowledging the incident, confirming that preliminary investigations indicated the drone as the cause.
Videos circulating on social media showed black smoke billowing over the port, though the source of the drone and the responsible party remain unidentified. Speculation has arisen implicating Iran, known for similar attacks on tankers in the Gulf and Red Sea, as well as targeting energy infrastructure in neighboring countries during ongoing conflicts with the US and Israel.
This incident marks a potential first-time attack on Egypt by Iran if confirmed. US President Donald Trump hinted at Iranian involvement, suggesting a pattern of escalating tensions. Coincidentally, the drone strike on the US-owned vessel coincided with US and Saudi Arabian airstrikes on Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq, responding to previous drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
The strikes resulted in casualties among the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), Iranian-supported Shia militias, further intensifying the conflict dynamics in the region. The US carried out significant airstrikes as part of its military response on the same night, underscoring the volatile situation in the Middle East.
