Truck gridlock at Ibrahim Khalil as Turkish system upgrade halts trade for two days

NEWSROOM – A system upgrade by Turkish authorities at the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing has caused a two-day halt in traffic, stranding thousands of trucks at the critical trade gateway between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region.

Nechirvan Yousif, a truck driver from Zakho in Duhok governorate, described the disruption as chaotic. “We’ve been waiting for two days without permission to return,” Yousif told 964media. “There are thousands of us, but only about 130 drivers are from the Kurdistan Region. Our trucks are halted, and we’re just waiting for the border to reopen.”

As of September 2024, trade volume between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey had reached nearly $10 billion, according to the Erbil Chamber of Commerce. This represents a significant share of the overall $20 billion in annual trade between Iraq and Turkey.

The backlog of vehicles now stretches approximately 30 kilometers, with drivers growing increasingly frustrated. Yousif expressed concern that further delays could interfere with essential activities. “If we’re not allowed to proceed soon, some of us might miss the chance to participate in the ongoing census process,” he added.

A source at the Ibrahim Khalil border, also known as the Habur Gate on the Turkish side, confirmed to 964media that the delays were caused by system updates on the Turkish side and were not related to the Kurdistan Region or its authorities. The source estimated that the border might reopen within the next 24 hours, though no exact timeline was given.

The Ibrahim Khalil border crossing is the Kurdistan Region’s largest trade route, facilitating extensive commercial exchanges with Turkey. The prolonged closure has raised concerns about its impact on regional trade and logistics.

While Turkish authorities have not provided specific details about the system upgrades, they emphasized that the closure is a temporary measure aimed at improving border efficiency. For now, Kurdish truck drivers and businesses remain in limbo, awaiting the resumption of normal operations.