Egypt Is Drawn Into The War, Ships Attacked By Drone Near Suez Canal

Third Gulf War

For the first time in five months of fighting, the war with Iran has reached Egyptian soil. On Wednesday a drone struck the Mediterranean port of Damietta and set two gas tankers on fire. The larger one, the Energos Winter, is an American-owned vessel that stores and ships liquefied gas; the flames then spread to a second tanker, the GasLog Salem. Firefighters brought the fire under control, and every crew member walked away unharmed.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the strike. The government confirms that a drone caused the July 29 fire at Damietta port, which struck two vessels, among them the American-owned Energos Winter, a floating gas-storage ship. No group has claimed the attack, and officials are still investigating. That caution will not last, because the target speaks plainly enough on its own.

GasLog Salem

As we’ve already seen, drones and missiles have already hit oil and gas sites from the Gulf to Saudi Arabia, yet Egypt had escaped until now. Of all the places a drone could have found, it found a piece of energy equipment flying an American flag, in one of the country's main gas-export ports. If this was an Iranian drone, it was without a doubt a deliberate message about power over the world's fuel supply. Just take a quick glance as to where exactly this port is – it neighbours the Suez canal entrance. According to sources at the NYT, Iranian sources said the strike were meant to show Tehran's power to disrupt global shipping and energy if the fighting continues to spread.

Others have called into question the authenticity of this strike. The perfect target, no previous interceptions – and it does smell a bit fishy. But what is the intention here? Drag the conflict out? Make oil and gas prices soar more? All possible, but we have to consider who benefits from this and this is a complicated one.

Here lies the danger for markets far from Egypt. Ships, ports, and pipelines are the weak points of the global economy, and a single drone can push oil prices higher in every market at once. Whoever launched this one wanted the world to notice how little effort it took, and how far the reach now extends. Like I said, if this was Iran – it is showcasing to the world that it can control three of the world's largest trade routes with a push of a button.

“Following the containment of the fire that affected two ships at Damietta Port on July 29, 2026, and after the relevant authorities conducted their preliminary investigations, it was determined that the incident was caused by a drone. No party has yet been identified as responsible. The competent authorities are continuing their investigations to determine the circumstances of the incident and to take the necessary measures to safeguard Egypt’s interests and national security.”