A drone attack on Egypt's Port of Damietta ignites concerns over Suez Canal security, impacting global shipping and energy supplies.
A drone strike on Egypt's Port of Damietta set two ships ablaze and underscored the vulnerability of the Suez Canal, through which about 10 percent of global seaborne trade passes, reported the New York Times.
Egypt stated that the attack appeared to involve a drone, which hit a US-owned gas tanker and another vessel. Although the incident did not halt canal traffic, analysts warned that it demonstrated how the ongoing Middle East conflict could disrupt global shipping.
Two Iranians informed the paper that the strike was intended to showcase Iran's capability to escalate tensions and threaten energy supplies. The Houthis, who control the Bab el Mandeb Strait, have already declared a blockade in the Red Sea and fired missiles at ships.
Maritime analyst Dimitris Ampatzidis noted that the risks at Hormuz and Suez are separate but compounding. Chatham House expert Nitya Labh stated that the attack reinforced Houthi leverage and raised the stakes of the conflict.
President Trump implied that Iran was behind the strike, although Egypt has refrained from assigning blame. Analysts indicated that Cairo is cautious of reprisals that could harm its economy, which heavily relies on canal tolls. A week-long blockage in 2021 by the Ever Given container ship cost Egypt up to US$90 million in lost tolls and held up nearly US$10 billion of cargo daily.
