A recent fire incident at the Damietta port in Egypt involving two ships was attributed to a drone strike, according to the Egyptian government. The attack on the vital liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub has not been claimed by any party so far, as stated in an official announcement. Ongoing investigations aim to safeguard Egypt’s interests and national security by taking necessary actions.

The fire reportedly started on a US-owned floating storage and regasification vessel, Energos Winter, after being hit by a drone. Subsequently, the fire spread to a nearby Greek-owned LNG tanker, the GasLog Salem. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries in the incident, as confirmed by Egypt’s oil ministry.

Following the event, the Egyptian Cabinet revealed that preliminary inquiries indicated a drone as the cause of the fire on July 29, 2026, at Damietta Port. Videos circulating on social media showed black smoke billowing over the port, raising suspicions about the origin of the drone and potential involvement of Iran.

Iran and its allies have been linked to similar attacks on tankers in the Gulf and the Red Sea, along with targeting energy infrastructure in neighboring countries amid conflicts with the US and Israel. If Iran is indeed responsible for this attack, it marks the first direct assault on Egypt by the country. US President Donald Trump hinted at Iran’s involvement, suggesting a need for resolution.

The drone strike on the US-owned vessel occurred shortly after the US and Saudi Arabia conducted air strikes on Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq accused of drone assaults on Saudi oil facilities. The strikes resulted in the deaths of around 20 members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), Iranian-supported Shia militias, in what the US described as a series of heavy strikes through Wednesday night.