Drone attack on US tanker in Egypt: Media reveal likely motive
Photo: Two vessels caught fire in the port of Damietta following an overnight explosion (Getty Images)
A drone struck a US gas storage tanker at Egypt's Port of Damietta, setting it ablaze along with a Greek LNG carrier, according to The New York Times.
What happened at the Port of Damietta
An explosion rocked the Egyptian port of Damietta on the Mediterranean coast, near the Suez Canal, on Wednesday. Two vessels caught fire following the blast.
According to data from three maritime tracking companies, the explosion was caused by a drone strike. Egyptian authorities and the vessels' owners have not yet officially confirmed the cause.
Kpler, a maritime tracking firm, said both vessels have left the port. Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum said there were no confirmed injuries or fatalities.
Who may be behind the attack
Joshua Hutchinson, Chief Commercial Officer at Ambrey, said the explosion was most likely caused by a drone strike on at least one of the vessels. The company did not identify who was responsible for the attack.
Two Iranian sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strike was intended to demonstrate that global shipping and energy supplies could suffer even more severe consequences if Iran decides to escalate. They did not specify whether the attack was carried out by Iran itself or by an allied regional militia.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he had been briefed on the explosion and hinted at Iran's involvement, without providing further details.
Trump said the incident was "more of the same", adding that the United States will be "going to be hitting them very hard, because it’s our turn to hit them."
What is known about the crew and the vessels
The US floating gas storage vessel Energos Winter is owned by Stamford, Connecticut-based Energos Infrastructure.
Company spokesperson Jonathan Chia said Energos Infrastructure could not confirm whether the vessel had been hit by a drone. He added that all crew members had been accounted for and that no one was injured.
Videos on social media verified by The New York Times show tugboats hosing down the Energos Winter while it remained in port.
As previously reported, the United States imposed new sanctions on Iran over the situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
The measures target two Iranian insurance companies and eight tankers belonging to Iran's so-called shadow fleet.
Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg, a quick end to the confrontation between the United States and Iran is unlikely, as the two sides have yet to reach an agreement on the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
Bloomberg's sources believe hostilities will continue at a lower intensity alongside ongoing indirect negotiations.
