Nine Syrian Sailors Missing After Drone Strike Sinks Cargo Ship Off Bulgaria

SOFIA (Terror Monitor) — Nine Syrian sailors and one Egyptian crew member remain missing after a commercial cargo ship was sunk in a drone attack in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, Syrian and Bulgarian officials said.

The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan was one of two commercial vessels struck by drones early Tuesday, about 70 nautical miles (130 kilometers) east of Bulgaria’s coast. The ship sank after the attack, while a second vessel, the Palau-flagged Able, caught fire.

Bulgaria subsequently called off the search for the missing crew after rescue teams failed to locate any survivors. Syrian authorities have now called for an independent and transparent investigation into the sinking and questioned why the search-and-rescue operation was suspended before the fate of the crew had been established.

Nine Syrians and One Egyptian Missing

Mazen Aloush, an official with Syria’s ports and customs authority, told Agence France-Presse that the Alfa Watan had 10 crew members — nine Syrians and one Egyptian.

“Their fate remains unknown,” Aloush said, according to AFP.

He said Syria had sent urgent communications to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Bulgarian maritime authorities, requesting an independent and transparent investigation into the incident.

Aloush also asked for an explanation of the decision to suspend the search and rescue operation before the missing sailors had been found.

Syrian authorities urged investigators to use all available technical means to locate the wreck and determine what happened to the crew.

No Survivors Found

Bulgarian authorities said rescue teams found no survivors from the Alfa Watan.

A Bulgarian ferry that responded to the scene reportedly found an overturned boat, three life rafts and pieces of equipment from the vessel, but there was no sign of the crew. The search was subsequently suspended.

The ship sank in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone, although the incident occurred outside the country’s territorial waters.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev described the attack as a serious violation of maritime law and warned that attacks on commercial shipping were increasing the risks to civilian vessels operating in the Black Sea.

Second Ship Caught Fire

The second vessel hit in the attack, the Palau-flagged Able, was carrying 18 crew members, including 11 Turkish and seven Indian sailors.

All 18 crew members were rescued after the ship caught fire. Two sailors were taken to hospital with injuries, including burns and a head injury, while the remaining crew members were transported safely to shore.

The two vessels were operated by Turkey-based companies, according to the Equasis merchant shipping database.

The attacks occurred around 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday and involved both aerial and maritime drones, according to Bulgarian officials.

Russia Suspected but Not Confirmed

The identity of those responsible for the attack has not been officially established.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russia for the strikes, while Bulgarian officials have stopped short of directly assigning responsibility.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said there were indications that could point toward Russia, based on the vessels’ routes and circumstances, but stressed that there was not enough evidence to make a definitive accusation.

Russia has denied targeting the Alfa Watan. The Russian embassy in Sofia said the merchant vessel was not among the targets of Russian drone strikes reported on Tuesday.

The incident has nevertheless intensified concerns about the expanding risks to commercial shipping in the Black Sea as the Russia-Ukraine war continues.

Syria Demands Independent Investigation

The Syrian government has called on the International Maritime Organization and Bulgarian authorities to conduct an independent investigation into the sinking.

Aloush said the investigation should determine what happened to the crew and examine the circumstances that led to the suspension of the rescue operation.

Syrian sailors’ organizations and relatives have also expressed concern over the fate of the missing crew. Social media posts circulated by Syrians included photographs of sailors and reports about their presumed deaths, although authorities have not confirmed that any of the missing crew members have died.

The Alfa Watan incident is part of a broader series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea that have raised concerns among regional governments, shipping companies and international maritime organizations about the safety of civilian navigation and global trade routes.