"The New York Times": Damietta Attack Was an "Iranian Message"

Washington, Cairo, New York – Agencies: Egypt announced yesterday that the fire that broke out at the Port of Damietta on Wednesday was caused by a drone, marking the first attack targeting the country since the start of the Middle East war. The Egyptian Prime Minister’s Office confirmed in a statement that preliminary investigations into the incident showed the fire was caused by a drone. No party has claimed responsibility for the incident, while noting that relevant authorities are continuing their investigations to determine the circumstances of the event and take necessary measures to safeguard Egypt’s interests and national security.

Meanwhile, The New York Times quoted two Iranian sources who confirmed that the drone attack on Egypt aims to demonstrate that global shipping and energy supplies could face broader disruptions if Iran decides to escalate the confrontation. The two Iranian sources, who wished to remain anonymous, did not clarify whether Tehran or one of its allied militias in the region carried out the attack, nor did they specify where the drone was launched from.

For its part, the Damietta Port Authority confirmed that operational activities at the port are continuing normally, with maritime and logistics services operating around the clock without interruption. Ambrey, a maritime security company, reported that an American-flagged vessel registered in the Marshall Islands, moored at the Port of Damietta, was attacked by at least one drone.