The Egyptian cabinet has confirmed that a drone attack was responsible for the fire that engulfed two liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels at the Mediterranean port of Damietta.
The government’s statement on Thursday provided the first official attribution for the blaze, which erupted the previous day and has since been contained.
The confirmation marks a significant escalation in the security narrative surrounding Egypt’s energy infrastructure.
While the immediate physical damage appears limited to the two vessels involved, the use of a drone as the attack vector raises questions about the vulnerability of critical energy nodes in the region.
Traders are likely to monitor the situation for any signs of broader disruption to LNG export flows or port operations.
Damietta is a key hub for Egypt’s LNG exports, and any prolonged disruption could tighten regional supply balances.
The incident also underscores the growing risks associated with maritime security in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region that has seen increased geopolitical tension in recent months.