Drone hits US-owned gas tanker at Egypt port in potential widening of Iran war

The attack triggered an explosion and fire at the Mediterranean port while liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo was being handled. The blaze spread from one vessel to another, prompting emergency crews to rush to the scene and forcing the evacuation of sailors.The incident at Damietta may signal that geography is no longer offering the same protection. (Screengrab: X)The Middle East war has largely been confined to the Gulf and its surrounding hotspots. That changed on Wednesday when a drone hit a US-owned gas tanker at Egypt's Damietta Port, sparking concerns that the conflict is expanding into another most important energy hub.The attack triggered an explosion and fire at the Mediterranean port while liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo was being handled. The blaze spread from one vessel to another, prompting emergency crews to rush to the scene and forcing the evacuation of sailors. No injuries were reported, but the incident has intensified fears that the region's widening conflict is beginning to threaten countries that had so far remained outside the direct line of fire.A US-owned LNG floating storage facility flying a Marshall Islands flag was struck by at least one drone in Damietta, Egypt.Local authorities say the situation is now ‘under control.'“The vessels involved have been safely relocated outside the port area... port pic.twitter.com/te6MxlOtDp— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 29, 2026British maritime security firm Ambrey identified the vessel as the US-owned floating storage tanker Energos Winter, saying it was struck by a drone while docked at Damietta. According to Reuters, the resulting fire spread to another LNG carrier, Gaslog Salem, before firefighters managed to contain the flames. Egyptian authorities later confirmed that a fire had broken out on a storage vessel and a tugboat at the port but stopped short of saying what caused it.EGYPT CONFIRMS FIRE, STAYS SILENT ON CAUSEEgypt's Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi travelled to Damietta to oversee the emergency response as firefighting and technical teams worked to secure the site and assess the damage. In a statement, Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said emergency teams responded immediately and prevented the incident from escalating. "The situation was dealt with immediately in accordance with the emergency plans and firefighting and safety teams at the site," the ministry said.Officials said there were no casualties, but they made no reference to the reports of a drone strike. The absence of an official explanation has done little to calm speculation, particularly after Ambrey concluded that the vessel had been hit by a drone. No group has claimed responsibility.The vessel at the centre of the incident, Energos Winter, is no ordinary tanker. It is a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) capable of storing 138,250 cubic metres of liquefied natural gas, allowing LNG to be converted back into natural gas before being fed into domestic pipelines or export networks. The vessel is owned by US-based Energos Infrastructure, while its technical, safety and commercial operations are managed by Wilhelmsen Ship Management.THE WAR MOVES CLOSER TO EGYPTThe attack came on one of the most volatile days the region has seen in weeks. A few hours earlier, the US and Saudi Arabia carried out joint strikes on Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) bases across Iraq, a significant escalation that marked Riyadh's first acknowledged participation in military operations alongside Washington against Tehran's allies.The strikes followed fresh attacks on US forces in the region and renewed hostilities after a brief pause in fighting.Iran confirmed overnight that it had launched missiles at US military bases in Jordan and targeted ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran also rejected an Omani proposal to jointly administer the strategic waterway, signalling that diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions remain stalled.US President Donald Trump responded with a blunt warning."We'll be hitting them hard," Fox News quoted Trump as saying. "We're going to beat the fucking shit out of them."The remarks came only days after Trump had unexpectedly suspended American air strikes, saying commanders believed the initial phase of the operation had achieved its objectives. That pause now appears to have ended.The strike at Damietta has once again shown how vulnerable the region's energy infrastructure has become.The port is one of Egypt's main LNG export terminals and plays an important role in supplying natural gas to international markets. Any disruption there is closely watched by traders already nervous about attacks on oil facilities, shipping lanes and critical infrastructure across the Middle East.Oil markets reacted immediately.Brent crude futures jumped more than 8 per cent, climbing back above $90 a barrel after falling sharply earlier this week when hopes briefly emerged that the conflict might cool.A NEW FRONT EMERGING?Until now, Egypt had avoided the direct military strikes that have increasingly affected countries across the region. Iran-backed groups have targeted US military installations, commercial shipping and Saudi energy infrastructure in recent months, while fighting has repeatedly spilled across Iraq, Syria and the Gulf.Whether Wednesday's strike proves to be an isolated attack or the beginning of a broader campaign remains unclear. But as drones reach another key Mediterranean energy hub, the conflict is showing fresh signs that its boundaries are widening.- EndsWith inputs from agenciesPublished By: Devika BhattacharyaPublished On: Jul 29, 2026 23:04 IST