Syria Seeks Probe Into Sinking, 10 Crew Missing

The cargo ship Alfa Watan was attacked by a drone early Tuesday in Bulgaria's Black Sea exclusive economic zone, about 70 nautical miles off the coast. All 10 crew—nine Syrians and one Egyptian—are missing. Bulgaria halted search-and-rescue on Wednesday. Vice-Admiral Rumen Nikolov said no trace of the sailors had been found and the operation would not resume. On Thursday Mazen Aloush, director for international relations of the Syrian General Authority for Ports and Customs, said Syria called on the International Maritime Organization and Bulgarian authorities for an independent investigation. Syria sought an explanation for ending the search before the crew's fate was known, urged inspection of the wreckage, and said the case should not close before all leads were exhausted. Aloush condemned the targeting of a civilian commercial vessel as a serious violation of maritime safety and a direct threat to sailors and trade routes. Who carried out the attack is unresolved. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the cargo's nature and the ships' direction of travel could point to Russia but said there was no evidence to attribute responsibility directly. Russia's embassy in Sofia said the vessel was not among targets hit by Russian drones.