A drone strike on Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta — the first attack on the country since the US‑Iran war erupted — has raised fears that American interests across the Middle East are vulnerable, analysts warn.

No group has claimed responsibility and Cairo has not assigned blame for the strike, which hit the US‑owned Energos Winter gas storage vessel and damaged the Greek‑owned GasLog Salem tanker moored alongside. Fires broke out but Egyptian casualties were avoided.

Yemen’s Houthis, who have imposed a Red Sea blockade on Saudi Arabia, denied involvement.

Analysts say the attack’s purpose may have been to drag Egypt into the conflict, undermining its role as one of the few diplomatic channels between Washington and Tehran.

The strike marked a new milestone by crossing from the Gulf into the Mediterranean. Damietta lies more than 1,300 km from Iran and 2,000 km from Yemen, raising questions about the launch point.

King’s College London’s Andreas Krieg suggested the attack was calibrated to hit a US‑linked asset without killing Egyptians, though Cairo would not find that distinction reassuring.

Royal United Services Institute analyst HA Hellyer said it was unlikely Iran struck directly from its territory, but regional allies — Houthis, Iraqi militias, or Hezbollah — could have carried it out. Hezbollah’s proximity, less than 400 km away, makes it a plausible source, though Cairo University’s Mustapha Kamel Al‑Sayyid argued the group is “wiser” than to provoke Egypt’s powerful military.

Egypt had so far been spared drone and missile attacks that have hit energy facilities elsewhere.

Krieg cautioned the strike was less about Egypt itself than about showing US assets are vulnerable beyond the Gulf.

“Neutrality does not guarantee immunity,” he said.

The attack coincided with renewed US‑Iran hostilities after a brief lull, signaling Tehran’s ability to disrupt global trade farther afield.

Hellyer warned such a strategy carries “high risk” and could damage Iran’s security ties.

Egypt, balancing diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, has absorbed rerouted Gulf trade through its ports and the Suez Canal.

Analysts say vessel operators may now adopt a wait‑and‑see approach as risks around Egypt’s northern gateway are reassessed.

Cairo insists marine traffic remains normal and Damietta port operational.

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