Egypt is investigating the source of Wednesday’s drone attack on its Mediterranean port of Damietta, its prime minister said Friday.
In a press conference, Mostafa Madbouly said the attack happened at 2:20 p.m. local time when a fire broke out aboard two adjacent vessels, including one of Egypt’s floating regasification units (FSRU) that receives liquefied natural gas (LNG) and converts it back into natural gas for the national grid.
Madbouly said the FSRU was moored next to an LNG storage vessel that Egypt maintains as a strategic reserve capable of supplying the national gas network when needed.
“Had the situation not been managed properly, the consequences would have been catastrophic,” he added, saying an explosion aboard the vessel could have destroyed large parts of the port and surrounding facilities.
Madbouly said military, police and security agencies conducted a comprehensive forensic investigation and that specialist teams boarded the vessel to examine what he described as the remains of the drone involved in the attack.
“Up to this moment, no party has officially claimed responsibility for the incident,” he added. “There are speculations and opinions, but the state does not rely on speculation or unverified claims.”
A joint security task force is continuing to analyze the incident to determine the origin of the attack and assess Egypt’s response, he added.
On Thursday, Iran’s foreign minister hinted in a post on social media that the attack was an Israeli “false flag” operation, without giving any evidence.
