Egypt says fire on ships at Damietta port caused by drone

Egypt says fire on ships at Damietta port caused by drone

A preliminary investigation by Egyptian authorities has determined that a drone caused a fire involving two vessels at Damietta Port on Wednesday. The incident involved a regasification vessel and a storage vessel, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

The Egyptian Cabinet stated on Thursday that no party has claimed responsibility for the strike. Competent authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the fire to take necessary measures to protect national security and Egypt's interests. Despite the incident, the Damietta Port Authority announced on Facebook on Thursday that the facility remains fully operational.

British maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the drone strikes ignited fires on a Greek-owned tanker and a U.S.-owned floating storage facility. No casualties or injuries were reported from the blaze.

The strike occurred amid a violent escalation between the United States and Iran. On Thursday, both nations launched barrages of missiles. This latest eruption follows a brief lull that had previously fueled hopes for a diplomatic resolution to a five-month conflict.

The violence has expanded across the region. Jordan's state-run Petra news agency, quoting the armed forces spokesman, reported that air defenses shot down five Iranian missiles on Wednesday. In Kuwait, the Defence Ministry described an Iranian strike on a Chinese company building in the northern part of the country as "Iranian aggression," stating the attack killed one worker and severely damaged the structure.

The U.S. Military's Central Command (CENTCOM) stated it conducted a heavy wave of strikes against Iran in response to an Iranian missile attack on a U.S. Base in Jordan. The U.S. Targeted dozens of sites belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, including drone facilities, missile sites, military command centers, and coastal defense and surveillance sites. President Donald Trump stated the U.S. Would hit Iran very hard because it’s our turn to hit them.

In Iran, reports of casualties emerged. Iran's official IRNA news agency stated three people were killed and two wounded in a strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, the IRGC's provincial branch reported via Tasnim news agency that three members were killed in a brutal attack by the U.S. In the northwestern province of Zanjan on July 30.

Other regional targets include the province of Khuzestan, where power outages were reported in parts of Ahvaz after at least seven sites were hit. Explosions were also heard in Abadan, Arvandkenar, and Shadegan.

The conflict has further impacted Iraq and Saudi Arabia. On Wednesday, the U.S. And Saudi Arabia launched joint strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The PMF stated at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers were killed. Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr criticized militia leaders on X for individualistic and irrational actions, blaming them for the deaths of security personnel and PMF fighters.

Saudi Arabia has accused Iraqi militias of using drones to target its oil facilities. The Houthis in Yemen claimed they attacked Saudi energy facilities in response to a Saudi drone breaching Yemeni airspace. Planet Labs satellite imagery analyzed by the Associated Press showed damage to Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq oil-processing facility, which processes approximately 7 million barrels of crude oil per day.

The broader economic impact centers on the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of oil and natural gas shipments passed in peacetime. The waterway is currently effectively closed. To replenish munitions used in the conflict, the U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to produce Patriot interceptor missiles through fiscal 2032.

Diplomatic efforts continue despite the fighting. Pakistan, which helped broker an earlier interim agreement, said it is making utmost efforts to bring the U.S. And Iran back to the negotiating table. Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated negotiations are ongoing to de-escalate and normalize the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged both parties to stop fighting and resume negotiations, with mediation initiatives led by Qatar and Pakistan.