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Damietta port drone strike proves Egypt can't hide from regional war - analysis

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Official statement Under investigation
  • Egypt's cabinet confirmed a drone strike caused a fire on two vessels at Damietta port, contradicting initial reports.
  • No group has claimed responsibility, but investigations suggest potential Houthi involvement, possibly linked to Iran's actions against European oil and gas shipments.
  • The attack, which damaged Egyptian economic interests, highlights Egypt's vulnerability to regional conflicts despite its efforts to secure national interests.

Egypt's cabinet confirmed a drone strike ignited a fire aboard two vessels at Damietta port, a statement that followed initial conflicting accounts from Egyptian security sources. The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 29, with no party yet claiming responsibility.

The Damietta incident is clearly deliberate and intentional.

— Hany El-AasarExecutive director of the National Center for Studies and a researcher specializing in security and military affairs, commenting on the drone strike.

Security and military affairs researcher Hany El-Aasar described the attack as deliberate and damaging to Egyptian economic interests, even though the vessels were not Egyptian. He suggested the attack could detract from the legitimacy of the political system, which relies on state security.

Egyptian intelligence is considering all possibilities, but El-Aasar believes evidence points strongly to the Houthi movement. He suggested this could be a response to Egypt's stance on Houthi escalations against Saudi Arabia and its role in policing Red Sea shipping. He also noted that while the group acts as Iran's arm, Tehran might not have directly ordered the strike to avoid jeopardizing its relations with Cairo.

It also detracts from the legitimacy of the political system, which rests on protecting and securing the state.

— Hany El-AasarExecutive director of the National Center for Studies and a researcher specializing in security and military affairs, commenting on the impact of the attack.

Days prior, Damietta port's LNG facility was featured on Iranian state television as a potential target for retaliation against Ukraine, following a Ukrainian drone strike on vessels in the Caspian Sea. Iranian media had openly stated Tehran would retaliate against targets connected to oil and gas shipments to Europe.

The group functions as Iran’s military arm, and that shaped a strike aimed at American interests.

— Hany El-AasarExecutive director of the National Center for Studies and a researcher specializing in security and military affairs, assessing the potential perpetrators.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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