Egypt's ministry reported that two gas ships are on fire at an Egyptian port. The ministry did not provide further details on the location, cause, or crew status.
Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum has confirmed that two gas ships are currently ablaze at an Egyptian port, the latest development in a rapidly evolving incident that began with conflicting reports of a drone attack earlier this evening. The ministry has not disclosed the port's name, the cause of the fire, or the status of the crews, and the incident is under investigation.
This confirmation follows a sequence of reports that emerged around 19:04 Jerusalem time. Initial accounts from Israeli media and maritime security firm Ambrey suggested a drone strike on a US-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged LNG storage vessel at Damietta Port. Within minutes, Egyptian officials denied any attack, telling the Saudi newspaper Al-Hadath that the incident was a fire. Later, Egyptian authorities updated that the blaze had broken out on several vessels, reporting no casualties. The ministry's latest statement now specifies two gas ships, narrowing the earlier description.
The incident comes amid a wave of maritime attacks and fires in the region. As The Zioneer has reported, Iranian cruise missiles struck two Emirati tankers off Oman in mid-July, killing one crew member, and the IRGC has claimed responsibility for disabling vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. These events have heightened concerns over the security of shipping lanes around the Arabian Peninsula and the eastern Mediterranean.
Key questions remain unanswered: the cause of the fire — whether accidental or the result of an attack — is unconfirmed, and no group has claimed responsibility. The exact port location and the condition of the crews have not been disclosed, and the ministry has not provided details on the extent of the damage.
20 developments
- DevelopingArmy Radio reports unusual drone interception near Dead Sea on Jordan border this morning
- StrongAl-Banna Brigades claim responsibility for attack on U.S. gas tanker in Damietta
- StrongIDF assesses with high probability Iraqi Shiite militia launched drones intercepted near Dead Sea, Mount Hermon
- StrongDrone strike reported on target in Shiite town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, southern Lebanon
Source and signal
- Open-source intake