Egypt recovers drone debris from Damietta Port attack, investigates its origin

CAIRO, Jul 30: Egyptian authorities have recovered debris from a drone used in an attack on a gas vessel at Damietta Port and are analyzing the wreckage to determine where it came from, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Thursday.

Speaking at a news conference in El Alamein, northern Egypt, Madbouly said no group had claimed responsibility for the attack and stressed that Cairo would base its position on evidence rather than speculation.

“We have recovered the drone debris from the attack on the vessel at Damietta Port and we are doing a security analysis,” Madbouly said.

He said Egyptian authorities had responded through multiple channels, including security measures involving the Defense Ministry and intelligence agencies, as investigations continued into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Two vessels caught fire after drone strike
The Egyptian government said earlier Thursday that two vessels caught fire at Damietta Port after being hit by a drone.

The fire broke out on Wednesday and was later brought under control, with preliminary investigations indicating that the incident was caused by a drone.

The government said no party had claimed responsibility and that security authorities were working to establish the full circumstances of the attack and determine measures needed to protect Egypt’s national security and interests.

Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry had initially announced a fire aboard two gas vessels at the port on Wednesday evening without identifying its cause.

British maritime security firm Ambrey subsequently reported that a drone had targeted a US-owned floating liquefied natural gas storage facility flying the Marshall Islands flag at the port.

Madbouly also sought to reassure the public over concerns about the impact of the attack on Egypt’s energy infrastructure.

He said the incident had not disrupted the country’s energy system, adding that the government had activated alternative arrangements to ensure continued supplies.

State Minister for Information Diaa Rashwan separately rejected speculation that the investigation would be abandoned or shelved. He said authorities would make their findings public once the investigation had been completed.

The attack has also drawn attention amid heightened regional tensions and speculation over possible Iranian involvement.

Asked at the White House whether Iran was behind the attack, US President Donald Trump described it as “a little more of the same.”

Trump also warned that the United States would respond forcefully to Iran, saying: “We’ll hit them very hard because it’s our turn to hit them. And they know it’s coming.”

Egypt, however, has not publicly blamed Iran or any other party and says it will wait for the findings of its security and forensic investigations before determining the origin of the drone.