Syria reopens key border crossing with Iraq after 13-year closure

Syria on Monday officially reopened the Al-Yarubiya-Rabia land border crossing with Iraq, resuming operations after a 13-year closure, the General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs said.

The move is expected to boost economic activity, strengthen bilateral ties, support stability efforts, and facilitate the movement of people and goods under approved legal frameworks, the authority said in a statement.

Officials from both countries attended the reopening ceremony.

The crossing had been largely shut for about 13 years due to security conditions and military operations during the conflict.

It is the fourth Syria-Iraq land crossing to resume operations, following the earlier reopening of Al-Qaim-Al-Bukamal and Al-Walid-Al-Tanf after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio