site.btaObservances: July 18

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1332: In the Battle of Rusocastron Fortress (now in Burgas Region), Tsar Ivan Alexander defeats Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos. Last Bulgarian victory over Byzantium before both countries fall under Ottoman rule.

1995: A ro-ro service between the Black Sea ports of Varna (Bulgaria) and Poti (Georgia) goes into operation.

2012: A suicide bomber blows himself up near a bus carrying Israeli tourists at Sarafovo Airport in Burgas (on the Black Sea), killing five Israeli nationals and the Bulgarian bus driver and injuring 37. Later on, Mohamad Hassan El Husseini (dual Lebanese-French citizen) is identified as the suicide bomber, and Hassan El Hajj Hassan, 28 (dual Lebanese-Canadian national), and Meliad Farah, 35 (dual Lebanese-Australian national) are charged with masterminding the attack.