Drone hits gas vessel near Suez Canal, threatening navigation amid U.S.-Iran escalation

A drone strike on gas vessels in Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta has signaled a potential new front in the U.S.-Iran war, raising concerns about threats to navigation through the Suez Canal. The Egyptian cabinet reported that an initial investigation indicated an unidentified drone caused a fire on two vessels at the port on Wednesday.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and authorities are implementing measures to protect national security. Trading sources familiar with the incident identified the drone as hitting the U.S.-owned gas storage tanker Energos Winter, with the fire spreading to another vessel. This incident follows overnight U.S. military strikes on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ military command centers and drone facilities.

Iran responded by stating that U.S. strikes on Qeshm Island killed three civilians and two children, and three Guards members died in Zanjan province. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also claimed to have struck the U.S.-run Azraq base in Jordan. Jordan’s armed forces reported intercepting five Iranian missiles earlier on Thursday.

Adding to the escalating regional conflict, Saudi Arabia publicly joined U.S. forces in strikes against Iran-aligned groups in eastern Iraq, retaliating for drone attacks on Saudi oil targets. The Saudi defense minister met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance to urge the Trump administration against further escalation.