Gas Tanker Fire in Damietta Port After Drone Impact

A drone impacted a U.S.-owned gas storage tanker in the Egyptian Mediterranean port of Damietta, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey, in an initial assessment that could indicate a further spread of the conflict in the Middle East.

The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum confirmed a fire in the port area but did not mention any drone attacks or provide the cause of the incident.

According to three commercial sources familiar with the incident, the drone impacted the floating tanker Energos Winter, causing a fire that spread to another vessel, the Gaslog Salem. Two independent security sources indicated that the probable cause of the explosion was a drone attack.

According to the British maritime risk management group Vanguard, the Energos Winter was hit by an unidentified projectile on its starboard side, causing a fire that was subsequently extinguished.

It was unclear who was responsible for the incident, which occurred shortly after Iran carried out a missile attack against U.S. forces in Jordan, and Washington and Saudi Arabia attacked Iranian-backed paramilitary groups in Iraq.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened retaliation against Iran, and Yemen's Houthi group declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, apparently extending the conflict to its widest point since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran in February.