US strikes Iran again as war widens with attack on Egypt port

The Middle East conflict widened further on Thursday (30 July) as the United States launched another wave of strikes on Iranian military sites, while a drone attack on Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta set two vessels on fire, raising fears of a broader regional war and fresh disruptions to global energy routes.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest strikes targeted Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command centres, missile facilities and drone infrastructure. The operation came after Iran fired ballistic missiles at US forces in Jordan, escalating direct hostilities between Washington and Tehran after a brief pause in fighting.

Iranian state media reported that US strikes hit several locations, including Qeshm Island, Zanjan, Hormozgan and Bushehr provinces. The reports said three IRGC members were killed in the attacks, while explosions were heard in several Iranian cities. Reuters reported.

The conflict expanded beyond Iran when Egypt confirmed that a drone caused a fire at the Mediterranean port of Damietta, marking the first acknowledged attack on Egyptian territory since the war began. 

Egypt's cabinet said the incident was an attack rather than an accident, adding that authorities were investigating the strike and taking necessary measures to protect national security.

The drone attack damaged two vessels, including the US-owned floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Energos Winter and the liquefied natural gas carrier GasLog Salem. Three trading sources familiar with the incident told Reuters that the drone struck Energos Winter, causing a fire that spread to the second vessel. 

British maritime security firm Ambrey said its initial assessment showed that a drone hit the vessel. Reuters reported.

Egypt's Petroleum Ministry said firefighting and security teams quickly brought the blaze under control and that no injuries or fatalities were reported. Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi visited the site to oversee emergency response operations.

The attack has raised concerns over the security of key maritime routes, particularly the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and serves as a major route for global trade and energy shipments. 

Maritime analysts warned that further escalation around Egyptian ports could increase risks for shipping companies already facing threats in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz. The New York Times reported.

The Damietta attack came at a sensitive time for Egypt's energy sector. Egypt, once a major LNG exporter after developing the giant Zohr offshore gas field, has returned to international markets as a major LNG buyer due to declining domestic production and rising demand.

Egyptian consultancy ElAdl Studies said the Energos Winter has a regasification capacity of around 450 million cubic feet per day, equivalent to about 7% of Egypt's daily gas consumption and 16% of the country's LNG receiving and regasification capacity. 

The consultancy said the outage was unlikely to create an immediate supply shortage because Egypt has alternative import facilities and backup fuel options, though it could reduce spare capacity during peak summer demand. Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out joint strikes against Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, further expanding the battlefield. Iraq's military said there was no evidence that recent attacks in the region were launched from Iraqi territory.

The Arab League condemned the Damietta port attack, with Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit warning against attempts to expand the conflict across the region. 

China also rejected reports that it planned to supply Iran with Chinese-made shoulder-fired air defence missile systems, calling the claims inaccurate. Pakistan also denied reports that its territory would be used as a transit route for any such shipment.