Drone Strikes US-Owned Gas Tanker at Egypt's Damietta Port Causing Fire

On April 1, 2026, an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) struck a liquefied natural gas storage tanker at the Damietta port in Egypt. The tanker, flying the Marshall Islands flag, is owned by an American company. The impact triggered a fire at the facility, but no casualties were reported. British maritime security firm Ambrey confirmed that at least one drone directly hit the port installation on the Mediterranean coast. Another port services company, Inchcape, reported that two gas tankers caught fire in Damietta. Egyptian firefighting teams quickly responded, extinguishing the flames and preventing the fire from spreading further.

Egyptian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident but have not classified it as an attack. Initial local reports described the event as a fire on an old, poorly maintained vessel, without mentioning a drone strike. However, information from the British security company supported the assessment that the fire resulted from an offensive action. The origin of the drone launch remains unknown, and no group has claimed responsibility. Investigators are currently examining who was behind the drone launch and whether the attack was deliberately targeted at the American-owned facility.

Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz are scheduled to attend an event on January 31, 2019, marking the arrival of the lower section of the Leviathan gas platform, highlighting ongoing regional energy developments.