Iran�s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kan'ani on Friday extended condolences over the deaths of dozens of people after their boat sank off the Syrian coast.

With great sadness, I got the tragic news of the deaths of a number of Lebanese and Syrian nationals off the coast of Tartus. I send my condolences to the people and governments of Lebanon and Syria. May God bless the victims, Kan'ani 656wrote in a tweet.

Lebanese officials have confirmed 71 deaths since the bodies were first found off the coast of Tartus on Thursday afternoon.

Syrian officials, quoting survivors, say the boat departed from Lebanon�s northern Mineyeh region on Tuesday with up to 150 people on board, some of them Syrian refugees living in Lebanon. The boat was bound for Europe.

 

 

By IRNA�