Egypt Probes Drone Strike on Gas Vessels at Critical Export Hub
A drone strike on July 29 ignited fires on two gas vessels at Damietta Port in Egypt, a key export hub for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to European and regional markets.
The suspected drone hit the Energos Winter, a U.S.-owned floating storage and regasification unit moored at Damietta, triggering a fire that spread to a second vessel, the Greek-owned LNG carrier GasLog Salem. Port emergency crews brought the blaze under control.
Egypt's government acknowledged the drone attack and stated investigations are ongoing into the launch point and platforms or networks used to guide the unmanned aircraft. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
Security analysts note that targeting a gas hub serving international markets underscores the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure far from active front lines. The strike follows a pattern of long-range drone operations against maritime and port assets, raising concern about similar tactics being used against other chokepoints connecting the Middle East and Europe.