Egyptian authorities stated Thursday that the explosion of gas tankers at the Damietta port on Wednesday was caused by a drone, according to Sapir Lipkin (N12). The investigation is ongoing. The statement marks a reversal from earlier Egyptian security sources who denied the blast was a drone strike and attributed it to a fire.
Egyptian authorities have officially confirmed that the explosion at the Damietta port gas terminal on Wednesday was caused by a drone, according to a report by Sapir Lipkin (N12). The statement, issued Thursday, reverses earlier denials by Egyptian security sources who had attributed the blast to a fire aboard an aging vessel. The investigation continues.
The Zioneer reported Wednesday evening (19:59 Jerusalem) that a drone strike had hit the gas-loading terminal, damaging a U.S.-owned floating tanker, citing regional channels. Egyptian security sources initially denied the attack. By Thursday morning (08:22 Jerusalem), Iranian sources told the New York Times that the strike was a deliberate drone attack intended to demonstrate Iran's ability to disrupt global shipping and energy supplies. Iran subsequently officially claimed responsibility for the strike. The Egyptian confirmation now aligns with those earlier reports from regional channels and Iranian sources.
The incident unfolds against the backdrop of a broader US-Iran confrontation that has severely disrupted global energy markets. As The Zioneer reported, oil prices have surged above $81 per barrel, and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly halted. The Damietta port is a critical liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, making energy infrastructure a key flashpoint in the ongoing escalation.
Egyptian authorities have not publicly attributed the drone to any specific actor. While Iranian sources have claimed responsibility, this has not been independently verified, and the official Egyptian statement does not identify the perpetrator. The investigation remains open.
7 developments
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- DevelopingUS aircraft strike targets in Iran after drone attack on American merchant ship
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