Syrian coast guard intercepts boat carrying 30 migrants
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian coast guard announced on Saturday that it intercepted a boat carrying more than 30 individuals attempting to leave the country illegally via Syrian territorial waters.
The vessel was detected off the Syrian coast and subsequently seized.
All individuals onboard were transferred to the appropriate authorities for investigation into the circumstances of the smuggling attempt and the parties involved, according to Syria’s official news agency, SANA.
This incident comes amid ongoing migration concerns in the region. At the end of last year, Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), stated that some religious minorities are leaving Syria due to what she described as a “potential threat.”
She emphasized the importance of halting mass returns to Syria until the security situation stabilizes.
In a related development in August 2024, the Lebanese Navy intercepted a boat carrying Syrian nationals after it was turned away by Cypriot authorities.
The boat, which had departed from the coastal city of Tartus, eventually reached the port of Tripoli in Lebanon.