Philippine port operator pulls out of strife-torn Syria, withdraws Filipino workers

MANILA, Philippines – A Philippine-based container port operator says it has decided to pull out of Syria and has withdrawn all of its Filipino workers from a key port due to the civil war in the country.

The withdrawal of Manila-based International Container Terminal Services Inc., through its Syrian subsidiary Tartous International Container Terminal, could effectively derail cargo services at the northwest port city of Tartous.

ICTSI Senior Vice President Hans-Ole Madsen said in an email Wednesday that the Philippine company is the sole container operator in Tartous through a concession granted by Syria's Ministry of Transport.

An analysis released Wednesday by the United Nations says at least 60,000 people have been killed in Syria's civil war, which began almost two years ago.