Additional Coverage:
Drone Attack Ignites Fires on Two Gas Ships at Egypt’s Damietta Port
July 30 (UPI) – Egyptian authorities reported on Thursday that a drone attack on Wednesday set two gas vessels ablaze at the Mediterranean port of Damietta.
The assault targeted a U.S.-flagged floating storage and regasification unit, the Energos Winter, igniting a fire that rapidly spread to the nearby Greek-owned liquefied natural gas tanker, GasLog Salem. Both ships were subsequently moved offshore. Fortunately, the fires were brought under control without any casualties, allowing the port-an essential hub near the Suez Canal-to resume full operations.
“No party has claimed responsibility,” officials stated, underscoring the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the incident.
Damietta port plays a key role in regional energy infrastructure, with the Energos Winter supporting Egypt’s liquefied natural gas capabilities. The Suez Canal itself is a vital artery for global trade, handling about 10% of all seaborne shipments, with roughly 50 vessels passing daily along its 120-mile route connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas.
The attack occurred just hours after coordinated U.S. and Saudi airstrikes targeted Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, a development that has heightened regional tensions. Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned of “dangerous consequences” following those strikes.
This marks the first known attack on Egyptian soil since U.S. military actions against Iran began on February 28. President Donald Trump confirmed that he had been briefed on the Damietta incident, emphasizing its significance amid ongoing geopolitical complexities.