Drone Strike Targets US LNG Vessel at Egypt's Damietta Port

WHO:

Euronews - The US-owned liquefied natural gas vessel is owned by New Fortress Energy.

Al Jazeera - Egypt's Petroleum Minister is Karim Badawi.

Al Jazeera - Iranian Foreign Minister is Abbas Araghchi.

WHAT:

Euronews - The Egyptian Cabinet confirmed that "preliminary investigations by the relevant authorities found that the incident was caused by a drone," marking the first official confirmation of the attack's nature.

Al Jazeera - The oil ministry stated that no party has claimed responsibility for the incident affecting the two vessels.

Al Jazeera - The authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and take necessary measures "to protect Egypt’s interests and national security."

Euronews - The incident disrupted operations at the terminal and forced both vessels to move offshore, according to energy analytics firm Kpler.

Euronews - The former head of the Damietta Port Authority, Major General Ayman Salah, noted that the regasification process occurs at very high pressure and that any leak could cause a fire.

Euronews - The drone strike is reported to be the first attack on Egyptian soil since the war between Iran and the US began in February.

Al Jazeera - The Egyptian Cabinet stated that authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and to take necessary measures "to protect Egypt’s interests and national security."

Al Jazeera - The fire incident affected operations at the terminal and forced both vessels to move offshore, according to energy analytics firm Kpler.

Euronews - A drone struck the Energos Winter, a Marshall Islands-flagged floating storage and regasification unit, causing a fire that spread to the nearby Bermuda-flagged LNG tanker Gaslog Salem.

Al Jazeera - The fire affected two vessels at Damietta Port, and no injuries were reported.

Al Jazeera - The Egyptian Cabinet confirmed that preliminary investigations found the incident was caused by a drone.

Euronews - The fire was brought under control, and both vessels were moved offshore for assessment.

WHERE:

Euronews - The incident occurred at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta.

Al Jazeera - The vessels involved are located at Damietta Port.

WHEN:

Euronews - The drone strike occurred on a Wednesday at approximately 3:20 pm CET.

Al Jazeera - The fire incident was confirmed to have occurred on July 29, 2026.

WHY:

Euronews - Iranian state television had identified Damietta as a possible target for "retaliation against Ukrainian interests" two days prior to the attack, following a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea.

Euronews - Iranian state television had identified Damietta as a possible target for "retaliation against Ukrainian interests" two days prior to the attack.

Euronews - The attack is part of escalating tensions in the region following a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian vessel.

HOW:

Al Jazeera - The situation was handled immediately in accordance with emergency and rapid response plans, as confirmed by the oil ministry.

Euronews - The drone struck the vessel on its starboard side, according to maritime security firms Ambrey and Vanguard.

Al Jazeera - The situation was handled immediately in accordance with emergency and rapid response plans.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 16:30 UTC)

The Egyptian Cabinet has confirmed that preliminary investigations found a drone caused the recent incident affecting two vessels, marking the first official acknowledgment of the attack's nature. While no party has claimed responsibility, authorities are actively investigating to ensure the protection of Egypt's interests and national security, as the incident disrupted operations at the terminal and forced the vessels to move offshore. The situation was managed promptly under emergency response plans, and experts have warned that any leaks during the regasification process could pose serious fire risks.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 14:44 UTC)

A drone strike has reportedly marked the first attack on Egyptian soil since the conflict between Iran and the US began in February, prompting the Egyptian Cabinet to launch an investigation into the incident to safeguard national security. Just two days before the strike, Iranian state television had suggested that Damietta could be targeted in retaliation for a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. The oil ministry confirmed that the situation was managed swiftly, following established emergency and rapid response protocols.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 13:37 UTC)

A drone strike on the Energos Winter, a floating storage and regasification unit, caused a fire that spread to the nearby Gaslog Salem LNG tanker at Egypt's Damietta Port, with preliminary investigations confirming the incident was caused by the drone. Fortunately, the fire was brought under control quickly, and both vessels were moved offshore for assessment, with no injuries reported. This attack comes amid escalating tensions in the region, as Iranian state television had previously identified Damietta as a potential target for retaliation against Ukrainian interests.