This article is from: srnnews.com
Damascus Seeks Probe Into Alfa Watan Sinking, 10 Missing Sailors, Including 9 Syrians
By Rizik Alabi / The Media Line
[DAMASCUS] Syrian authorities are calling for an independent international investigation into the attack that sank the cargo ship Alfa Watan in the Black Sea, while also questioning Bulgaria’s decision to halt search-and-rescue operations before the fate of 10 crew members was determined.
Mazen Alloush, director of international relations and cooperation at Syria’s General Authority for Ports and Customs, told The Media Line that Damascus has been following the case since the vessel was attacked early Tuesday, Oct. 6, while sailing inside Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone.
Alloush said the information available to Syrian authorities indicates that the Alfa Watan had a 10-member crew, including nine Syrian nationals and one Egyptian, and that their fate remains unknown.
The Alfa Watan, which was sailing under the Togolese flag, sustained severe damage and sank.
The Bulgarian government described the attack as a serious violation of international law and a threat to commercial shipping and opened an investigation to determine the type of drones used and their origin.
Sofia has not formally blamed any party for the attack. Ukraine has accused Russia of responsibility, while Moscow has denied any involvement, leaving the identity of the perpetrator unresolved pending the investigation.
The case has also raised questions about the Alfa Watan itself, including its route, cargo, ownership, and management.
Bulgarian reports said the vessel was sailing north when it was attacked, while details about its cargo and ownership remain disputed.
Alloush said the authority had sent urgent official memoranda to the International Maritime Organization and the relevant Bulgarian maritime authorities, calling for an “independent and transparent” investigation into the circumstances of the attack and for the identification of its source and those responsible.
He added that the Syrian side is also seeking an official explanation for why Bulgarian authorities ended the search-and-rescue operation without reaching a conclusive finding on the fate of the missing crew members.
Bulgarian authorities had announced the suspension of search efforts after failing to locate any of the missing sailors. Bulgarian officials said the ship was attacked roughly 70 nautical miles off the coast and sank rapidly after being hit.
A second commercial vessel, the Able, registered under the flag of Palau, was also damaged in the same attack, but all 18 crew members were rescued.
Alloush said Damascus is urging the use of all available technical means to locate and inspect the wreck of the Alfa Watan, arguing that examining the vessel could help determine the nature of the attack and clarify what happened. He said Syria does not want the case closed before all available search and investigative options are exhausted, particularly while it remains unclear whether any crew members were able to abandon the ship before it sank.
The incident was not limited to the Alfa Watan.
Bulgarian authorities said two commercial vessels were attacked by aerial and maritime drones inside the country’s exclusive economic zone early Tuesday.
The case is also taking on an increasingly humanitarian dimension as time passes without confirmed information about the missing sailors.
Alloush said efforts must continue until authorities can provide answers to the families of the missing crew members and ensure that their rights are protected under relevant international maritime rules and conventions.
He also condemned the targeting of the commercial vessel, saying attacks that endanger civilian ships and their crews pose a serious threat to international maritime safety, especially in the Black Sea, where shipping risks have risen amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine war.
Alloush said the General Authority for Ports and Customs would continue following the case in coordination with Syrian government, diplomatic, and maritime bodies, as well as international institutions and Bulgarian authorities.
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