Date of Report: July 30, 2026 Source: The Jerusalem Post (based on reporting by Jerusalem Post Staff, citing the New York Times, maritime security firm Ambrey, Reuters, and Egyptian official statements)
Summary of Incident
On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, a US-owned gas storage tanker, the Energos Winter, was struck by a drone at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta. The impact caused a fire that spread to a second vessel, the Gaslog Salem. Maritime security firm Ambrey reported the drone strike. Egypt’s Cabinet later confirmed that a drone caused the incident but stated that no party had claimed responsibility.
According to a New York Times report published Thursday, two Iranian sources speaking on condition of anonymity said the drones were launched from Iran. The sources did not identify a specific group responsible.
Official Responses and Damage Assessment
- Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry confirmed a fire at the port but initially did not attribute a cause or mention a drone. It reported no injuries or fatalities. Egyptian Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi visited the site to oversee the response. Emergency and technical teams continued working to contain the fire and assess the impact.
- Egypt’s Cabinet subsequently confirmed the drone involvement.
- US President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident. Speaking in the Oval Office, he described the explosion as “more of the same” and stated that the United States would be “hitting them very hard, because it’s our turn to hit them.” He did not provide extensive further details.
Broader Context
The attack occurred shortly after Iran conducted a missile strike against US forces in Jordan. In response, the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out strikes against Iran-backed paramilitary groups in Iraq.
Verification
Reuters verified video footage of the incident circulating on social media by matching port infrastructure, storage tanks, and ship-tracking data with archive and satellite imagery. Smoke was visible rising from the gas tanker following the reported drone strike.
Key Points
- Target: US-owned floating storage tanker Energos Winter at Damietta port.
- Secondary vessel affected: Gaslog Salem.
- Casualties: None reported.
- Attribution: Iranian sources (via NYT) claim launch from Iran; no formal claim of responsibility by any group.
- Egyptian position: Confirmed drone involvement; emphasized no casualties and ongoing response efforts.
- US reaction: Presidential briefing and statement signaling intent for strong retaliation.
This report is based solely on the details published in the referenced Jerusalem Post article as of its July 30, 2026 update. Further developments may emerge as investigations continue.
