Egypt has confirmed that the fire which broke out at Damietta Port on Wednesday was caused by a drone. The government, however, said no group or country has claimed responsibility for the incident.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Egyptian Cabinet said preliminary investigations pointed to a drone as the cause of the blaze. Authorities said investigations were still ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The fire affected two vessels at the Mediterranean port. They included a storage tanker and a ship used to convert liquid fuel into natural gas. Officials said measures were being taken to safeguard Egypt’s national security and protect its strategic infrastructure.
The confirmation came as fighting between the United States and Iran continued to intensify across the Middle East. Although the timing has fuelled speculation, Egyptian authorities stopped short of linking the incident to any country.
Iran’s Response
Iran quickly rejected suggestions that it was behind the attack. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Egypt as an important regional partner and insisted Tehran had no role in the incident.
He also warned against what he described as possible “false flag” operations aimed at increasing tensions in the region. According to him, countries in the Middle East should remain vigilant against attempts to undermine regional stability.
The Damietta incident unfolded as the United States announced fresh sanctions targeting several Chinese and Russian entities accused of supporting Iran’s Mahan Air. Washington alleges the airline has been used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to transport personnel and military equipment.
The US Department of Defense also updated its casualty figures from the ongoing conflict. It said 11 additional American troops had been wounded since Tuesday, bringing the total number of wounded service members to 653. Eighteen US troops have been killed since the conflict began.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia announced the formation of a multinational maritime defence alliance involving 14 countries. The coalition is expected to strengthen security across the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while protecting international shipping lanes and energy supplies.
As investigations continue, Egyptian authorities say every effort is being made to identify those responsible for the drone strike. No further details have been released.
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