Fire destroys three cargo trucks at Rabia border crossing in Nineveh

NINEVEH — A fire broke out Wednesday at the Rabia border crossing in western Nineveh, destroying three cargo trucks parked in the facility’s waiting area, a source inside the crossing told 964media.

The source said two of the trucks were Iraqi and one Turkish. One was carrying timber, another electrical appliances and batteries, while the third truck’s cargo had not been identified.

Civil Defense crews and security forces responded to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby trucks, with border crossing workers also helping to bring the blaze under control. The cause remains under investigation.

Rabia is one of three main land crossings between Iraq and Syria. In early May, three commercial trucks from Syria crossed into Iraq through Rabia, the first trade activity through the route in around 13 years.

The Qaim-Albukamal crossing in Anbar remains the most active for passengers and goods, while the al-Waleed crossing, also in Anbar, reopened on April 2 after an 11-year closure and is used mainly for energy transport and trade.

The fire comes after Baghdad Operations Command on Tuesday urged residents to follow Civil Defense guidance to help prevent fires during the summer as temperatures rise. 964media reports have documented repeated fires in commercial buildings, markets, fuel stations and warehouses across Iraq, with Civil Defense statements often citing electrical faults, flammable materials, storage conditions and safety violations among the risks.