Mazen Alloush, director of Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Border Crossings, announced the reopening of the al-Tanf, al-Waleed border crossing, confirming the entry of the first convoys of Iraqi oil tankers heading to the Baniyas oil terminal.
In a post published on his official Facebook page today, Tuesday, March 31, Alloush said the reopening came “as part of strengthening economic cooperation between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Iraq.” He added that the step reflects “the reactivation of commercial transit and the facilitation of energy transit flows through Syrian territory.”
He also said that, in parallel, a delegation from the authority is conducting a field tour to assess the readiness of the al-Yarubiyah, Rabia crossing, ahead of completing preparations to reactivate operations there at the beginning of next May. The delegation is also following up on the status of the Semalka, Faysh Khabur crossing as part of procedures to bring it under the authority’s system.
Alloush said these steps mark “an important milestone in strengthening economic connectivity between the two countries and activating trade and energy routes,” in a way that supports trade exchange and enhances opportunities for economic integration in the coming period.
For his part, the director of Iraq’s al-Waleed district, Mujahid al-Dulaimi, announced the reopening of the al-Waleed border crossing between Iraq and Syria to crude oil tankers.
Speaking to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) today, Tuesday, March 31, al-Dulaimi said that “the al-Waleed border crossing witnessed its trial reopening today, with the immediate entry of crude oil tankers between Iraq and Syria.”
He added that the reopening took place in the presence of Anbar governor Omar Mishaan Dabbous and several local officials.
Al-Dulaimi also said that more than 150 tankers are currently waiting to enter Syrian territory, expecting at least 500 tankers to enter daily.
He described the move as “an important indicator” of reviving trade movement between the two countries.
Earlier government directives to reopen crossings
The reopening follows earlier official directives from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who stressed the need to speed up the reopening of the al-Waleed and Rabia crossings with Syria.
On February 16, the head of Iraq’s Border Ports Authority, Lieutenant General Omar al-Waeli, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that “the prime minister directed the swift reopening of the al-Waleed and Rabia crossings with Syria in order to raise the level of trade exchange and benefit from Iraq’s geographic location to connect East and West.”
At the time, he said the coming days would witness the opening of the two “important” crossings, which would positively affect revenues and increase trade exchange and transit through Iraq.
He added that work was being carried out “with high determination” by staff stationed at the al-Waleed and Rabia crossings.
The Iraqi al-Waleed crossing faces Syria’s al-Tanf crossing in Homs governorate, central Syria, bordering Iraq’s al-Waleed district. It has been closed for more than a decade.
US forces had previously announced their withdrawal from the al-Tanf base, which had played a strategic role in US regional policy in recent years, especially in monitoring overland supply routes between Tehran and Beirut.
The Rabia crossing, opposite al-Yarubiyah crossing in al-Hasakah governorate, northeastern Syria, lies between the Syrian town of al-Yarubiyah and the Iraqi city of Rabia in Nineveh governorate.
The crossing had been under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and had only been opened for humanitarian cases since 2013.
The Syrian government signed an agreement with the SDF on January 30 stipulating the integration of SDF institutions into the Syrian state.
Fawza Youssef, co-chair of the SDF negotiating delegation, said the crossings would come under the government in Damascus, while local administrators would be employed there.
Preparations underway to reopen al-Yarubiyah crossing
Syria’s General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs conducted an inspection tour today to the al-Yarubiyah border crossing in the eastern countryside of al-Hasakah to follow up on ongoing rehabilitation work and raise operational readiness ahead of its reopening to traffic with Iraq.
In a statement, the authority said its deputy head, Khaled al-Brad, accompanied by a delegation of central directorate managers, inspected infrastructure maintenance work that includes rehabilitating service facilities, improving the readiness of yards and internal roads, and upgrading passenger halls and customs offices, in addition to enhancing technical and logistical equipment.
The authority added that maintenance and rehabilitation work will be completed at the beginning of next May, when the crossing is expected to begin operations. It is expected to support trade movement, strengthen economic ties, and facilitate the movement of citizens between the two countries.
This comes as part of the authority’s plan to rehabilitate border crossings and improve their operational efficiency, amid parallel moves on the Iraqi side to open the al-Waleed and Rabia crossings.
Al-Bukamal crossing reopened earlier
On June 12, 2025, Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Border Crossings announced the reopening of the Al-Bukamal border crossing with Iraq to passenger and truck traffic, after completing all technical and administrative arrangements.
At the time, the authority’s director of public relations, Mazen Alloush, said the reopening was completed thanks to joint efforts and ongoing coordination between the Syrian and Iraqi sides, aimed at ensuring smooth transit and providing the best services for travelers and goods.
These accelerating efforts to reopen border crossings between Iraq and Syria come within a broader plan to boost trade exchange and capitalize on the two countries’ geographic position as a link between East and West, amid broader regional and international shifts.
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