Iraq reopens al-Waleed border crossing with Syria after 11 years as oil tankers begin flowing

ANBAR — Iraq reopened the al-Waleed border crossing with Syria on Thursday after more than 11 years of closure, with the first convoys of Iraqi oil tankers entering Syria toward the Baniyas refinery in the opening moments of the resumption.

Border Ports Authority head Omar al-Waeli presided over a joint ceremony with a Syrian government delegation, saying the reopening reflects “the recovery of the security situation and the strengthening of economic openness.” He said the government is moving forward with rehabilitating and developing border crossings “according to the highest technical and administrative standards.”

The head of Syria’s ports and customs authority, Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi, said the first Iraqi oil convoys have officially begun entering through al-Waleed toward Baniyas, and announced that the al-Yarubiyah/Rabia crossing is expected to reopen on May 1, with efforts underway to accelerate the process.

Al-Waeli described the two crossings as having “strategic dimensions and major economic importance at the level of Iraq and the countries of the region,” saying their reopening would enhance financial revenues, activate trade, create jobs in border areas and support local development.

The al-Waleed crossing had been closed since 2014 due to the Islamic State’s seizure of large parts of Iraq and Syria. The reopening follows the resumption of the al-Qaim crossing in June 2025 and comes as Iraq actively seeks alternative export routes after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted its southern terminals, making the overland route to Syria’s Mediterranean port at Baniyas a critical new artery for Iraqi crude.