Syrian-Iraqi Border Checkpoint To Reopen In April After Years-Long Hiatus - Reports

The Al Bukamal-Qa'im checkpoint at the border between Syria and Iraq will reopen in April after being closed for several years due to terrorist activities, local media reported on Wednesday, citing an Iraqi diplomatic source

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th March, 2019) The Al Bukamal-Qa'im checkpoint at the border between Syria and Iraq will reopen in April after being closed for several years due to terrorist activities, local media reported on Wednesday, citing an Iraqi diplomatic source.

On Monday, Iraqi General Staff Chief Gen. Osman Ganimi said that a checkpoint at the border with neighboring Syria would resume work in the coming days. There are, however, three checkpoints at the Syrian-Iraqi border � the Syrian army-controlled Al Bukamal crossing point in Deir ez-Zor province; the Al-Ya'rubiyah checkpoint in the Al Hasakah province, controlled by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces; and At Tanf, located in a zone around a US military base.

According to the Al-Watan newspaper's source, Ganimi meant the opening of the Al Bukamal checkpoint, with the event slated for April.

"The decision to open the checkpoint was made by the countries' leadership.

We are waiting for the announcement of the exact date," the source added.

Sources in the Syrian Transport Ministry, meanwhile, told the newspaper that the highway leading to the Iraqi border was in appropriate condition, although it needed minor repairs.

After eight years of fighting, Damascus has finally regained control over most of the territories that were previously seized by terrorist groups. The Syrian government is now focused on rebuilding the infrastructure to welcome back Syrian refugees who have fled the war.

Back in November, Syrian Transport Minister Ali Hammoud told Sputnik said that Damascus was ready to open border crossings at the border with Iraq and did not see security threats. The minister said that Syria expected Iraq to solve a number of logistical issues.

In January, the issue was discussed by a bilateral working group.