By John Lee.
Iraq and Syria have agreed a package of measures to streamline truck transit and border crossing procedures, including an expansion of the Rabia crossing and the introduction of dedicated lanes for commercial traffic.
The agreements were reached at a joint videoconference meeting attended by the Director General of the General Company for Land Transport, Mortadha Karim al-Shahmani; the head of the Border Ports Authority, Major General Dr Omar Adnan al-Wa'ili; and the Director General of the General Customs Authority, Dr Thamer Qasim Daoud. The Syrian side was led by the head of the General Authority for Ports and Customs, Dr Qutayba Badawi.
Key measures discussed and agreed include:
- Expansion of the Rabia crossing by 100 dunams to accommodate greater numbers of trucks and tankers
- Dedicated transit lanes for cross-border trucks, petrol and fuel tankers, and perishable goods vehicles
- Separate lanes for passenger and commercial traffic
- Opening of direct communication channels between Iraqi and Syrian border ports
- Electronic exchange of customs data to speed processing and improve accuracy of cargo descriptions, weights, and duties
- Resumption of passenger movement through the Walid crossing once passport halls and access roads are completed, expected in early 2026
The discussions also covered operations at the Rabia, Walid, and Al-Qaim shared border crossings, and ways to develop them in line with current trade volumes. Passenger traffic through the Rabia and Al-Qaim crossings will continue in the interim.
(Source: Iraqi Ministry of Transport)
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