Drone strike hits Egyptian port of Damietta, strikes two LNG vessels

Published Jul 30, 08:36 PM UTC

Egyptian officials confirmed a drone strike hit the port of Damietta on the Mediterranean, striking two LNG vessels: a U.S.-owned floating storage facility (Energos Winter) and a Greek-owned tanker (Gaslog Salem). No group claimed responsibility, but U.S. President Donald Trump hinted Iran was behind the attack. Two unnamed Iranian sources told The New York Times the strike was designed to show that global shipping and energy supplies could be further disrupted if Iran chose to escalate. The Houthis denied involvement. The attack expands the conflict beyond the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, where energy shipments are already choked by Houthi blockades and Iranian threats to the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia had diverted oil shipments through the Suez Canal after Houthi blockades, making the Mediterranean port a new target. The incident marks a significant potential escalation in the regional conflict centered on energy infrastructure.