An explosion hit a liquefied natural gas terminal at Egypt's Damietta Port on Wednesday evening during cargo discharge operations, with maritime security officials suspecting an unmanned aerial vehicle attack. Maritime security firm Ambrey reported that a drone struck the American owned, Marshall Islands flagged floating storage tanker Energos Winter, causing a fire that subsequently spread to a second vessel, Gaslog Salem. Shipping agent Inchcape Shipping Services stated that affected vessels were moved outside the port area while emergency crews contained the flames, allowing other berths to resume operations.
The incident follows a target map published by Iranian state television identifying Damietta Port as a potential site for retaliatory action against European energy supply lines. Iranian state media labeled the facility as "Damietta LNG: 5.2 million tons annual capacity, export gateway to Europe" following recent Ukrainian strikes on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi previously indicated that Iran did not seek escalation but demanded compensation from Ukraine over the Caspian incident.
Egyptian officials presented a contrasting account, with the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum stating that a fire broke out in an engine room and was handled immediately under standard emergency procedures. "Emergency teams are working with relevant authorities to complete required procedures and assess consequences," the Ministry of Petroleum stated, urging media outlets to rely strictly on official statements. Officials confirmed no casualties were reported among crew members.
The strikes in Egypt come amid heightened military actions across the broader Middle East. American and Saudi forces conducted joint strikes in Iraq targeting Iranian aligned militias, resulting in the deaths of several individuals, including Iranian Military advisers. In response, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq released a statement warning that "our response to the American enemy is inevitable, and it may target its agents in Saudi Arabia whenever circumstances justify it."
Simultaneously, President Donald Trump warned of direct military strikes against Iranian infrastructure following an overnight ballistic missile attack on an American base in Jordan. "We are going to hit Iran hard, we are going to dismantle them," Trump stated during an interview regarding the regional security situation.
According to statements provided by maritime security sources to REUTERS, commercial vessels operating in the region have been advised to maintain heightened security postures as investigators assess the cause of the Damietta terminal explosion.
