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U.S. President Donald Trump vowed Wednesday that the U.S. would respond “very hard” after a drone struck the U.S.-owned Energos Winter gas tanker at Egypt’s Damietta liquefied natural gas terminal.
Asked by reporters at the White House whether there was evidence that Iran was responsible for the attack, Trump said he had received a briefing but did not provide details about who carried it out.
“Well, I can give you a report. I’ve been briefed. It’s a little more of the same, but it’s going to be straightening out,” Trump said.
The president then said the U.S. would strike Iran.
“We’re going to be hitting them very hard because it’s our turn to hit them,” Trump said. “They know it’s coming.”
The reported drone strike came as two vessels used for gas processing and storage caught fire Wednesday at the Damietta LNG terminal during cargo discharge, according to Egypt’s Oil Ministry.
The ministry said no injuries were reported and that emergency procedures were immediately activated.
“The situation was handled immediately in accordance with emergency and rapid response plans,” the ministry said.
Egyptian authorities did not identify the cause of the fires.
ICC Shipping said an explosion was reported at the terminal during the cargo discharge operation.
The maritime company said the port was partially closed following the incident, with operations expected to resume overnight.
The Energos Winter was struck at Damietta, a Mediterranean port housing critical LNG infrastructure.
The incident raised concerns that the Middle East conflict could spread further to maritime energy facilities.
Trump did not directly confirm that Iran was responsible for the tanker strike when questioned by reporters, but he repeatedly warned that Tehran would face a U.S. response.
“It’s our turn to hit them,” he said.
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