**Egypt Confirms Drone Attack Caused Fire on Gas Vessels at Damietta Port**
The Egyptian cabinet announced on Thursday that a drone was responsible for the fire that engulfed two gas vessels at the Mediterranean port of Damietta. This confirmation marks the first official acknowledgment that the incident, which occurred a day earlier, was the result of an attack rather than an accident.
The fire reportedly began when a drone struck the floating storage tanker Energos Winter, which is owned by the U.S.-based Energos Infrastructure. The impact caused a blaze that subsequently spread to another vessel, Gaslog Salem. British maritime security firm Ambrey had provided an initial assessment indicating that the drone hit the U.S.-owned gas storage tanker, raising alarms about the potential for escalating conflict in the region.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the drone attack, Egyptian authorities are actively conducting investigations and implementing measures to safeguard national security. The cabinet emphasized the importance of these actions in light of the current regional tensions.
The incident at Damietta port occurred shortly after a series of escalatory events in the region, including a missile attack by Iran on U.S. forces stationed in Jordan. In response, the United States and Saudi Arabia conducted strikes against Iran-backed paramilitary groups in Iraq. These developments have heightened concerns about a broader conflict, which has intensified since military actions began in February involving U.S. and Israeli forces targeting Iran.
The Energos Winter, described as a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) with a storage capacity of 138,250 cubic meters, was struck on its starboard side by an unidentified projectile, as reported by the British maritime risk management group Vanguard. Fortunately, the fire was extinguished without any reported injuries or fatalities.
Egypt's petroleum ministry confirmed that firefighting and security teams responded promptly to the incident, with Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi visiting the site to oversee the response efforts. The ministry's statement reassured the public that safety protocols were effectively implemented to manage the situation.
As investigations continue, the international community remains watchful of the developments in the region, particularly given the recent uptick in military actions and threats. The incident at Damietta port serves as a stark reminder of the fragile security landscape in the Middle East, where maritime operations are increasingly becoming targets amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
With the situation still unfolding, authorities in Egypt are likely to enhance security measures at critical infrastructure sites to prevent similar incidents in the future.