Additional Coverage:
- Egypt says drone hit two ships at Mediterranean port as attacks on energy infrastructure widen (cnbc.com)
Egyptian authorities reported a drone attack on two vessels at the Damietta port on the Mediterranean, marking an escalation in assaults on energy infrastructure throughout the Middle East.
According to Egypt’s state-owned Middle East News Agency, an initial investigation revealed that the attack occurred on Wednesday, igniting fires aboard the ships. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident.
The affected vessels include a regasification ship and a storage vessel, both critical components of Damietta’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub. The Energos Winter floating storage and regasification unit, along with the GasLog Salem LNG tanker, sustained damage, as noted by trade intelligence firm Kpler.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources confirmed that emergency response teams swiftly contained the situation, executing coordinated firefighting and safety measures in line with established protocols.
This unclaimed assault comes amid a series of intensified strikes on regional energy targets by Iran, its Houthi allies in Yemen, and allied militias in Iraq. The tensions have recently escalated further, with the United States conducting retaliatory strikes against Iran on Wednesday following an attempted missile attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on U.S. forces in the region.
Earlier this week, the Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting a critical Saudi pipeline that transports oil to the Red Sea port of Yanbu-a vital artery for Saudi exports amid ongoing Iranian disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Last week, the Houthis also imposed a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Iran-backed militias in Iraq launched drone attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh and Eastern provinces, prompting joint U.S.-Saudi airstrikes against the militias on Tuesday. The recent spate of attacks underscores the growing volatility surrounding energy infrastructure in the Middle East.