Drone Strike Hits Egypt LNG Port Amid Iran-Ukraine Tension

A drone attack struck a liquefied natural gas facility at the port of Damietta in Egypt, causing fires on two gas-storage tankers. The blast damaged the US-owned Energos Winter and the Greek-owned, Bermuda-flagged GasLog Salem. Both vessels were subsequently moved offshore to mitigate further risk. The Egyptian council of ministers confirmed a preliminary investigation determined a drone caused the incident, though no party has officially claimed responsibility.

Two Iranian officials told The New York Times that the strike served as a warning that Iran could cause more severe disruptions to global shipping and energy supplies. The attack follows a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, and Iranian state television had marked Damietta port as a potential target for retaliation against Ukrainian interests three days prior to the explosion.

This incident occurs amid a wider escalation of hostilities, including Iranian missile strikes on US assets in Jordan and retaliatory US strikes on Iran. Despite the attack, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated following talks with Ukraine's foreign minister that Iran is not seeking escalation, though the government continues to demand compensation from Kyiv.