Baghdad, May 3: Iraq has restarted oil exports through the Al-Yaroubiyah border crossing to Syria. A convoy of 70 tankers has entered Syria, marking the first shipment via this route in 14 years.
According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the convoy is headed to the Baniyas refinery located on the Mediterranean coast.
Syrian official Firas Rustam, stationed at the Al-Yaroubiyah crossing, stated that “the reopening of this crossing after 14 years is a strategic initiative to strengthen economic ties between Iraq and Syria.” He added that this would facilitate trade and energy supply more effectively, fostering a long-term partnership between the two nations.
This move comes as Iraq seeks alternative routes for its oil exports, given that the Strait of Hormuz is currently closed due to rising tensions between the U.S.-Israel and Iran. The U.S. has also imposed blockades on several Iranian ports, accusing Iran of misconduct.
Meanwhile, Axios reported, citing some officials, that the U.S. maritime blockade has cost Iran approximately $4.8 billion in oil revenue, equivalent to around 456 billion rupees. This assessment reportedly comes from the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon).
The border crossing, known as Rabia in Iraq, was closed after the Syrian civil war began in 2011. It was later seized by ISIS in 2014, only to be reclaimed by Iraqi Kurdish forces.
Additionally, the Syrian Petroleum Company has announced plans to enhance operational capacity via social media. They stated that significant steps have been taken to accelerate supply. Following technical and engineering work at the Baniyas refinery, approximately 500 Iraqi tankers are now being unloaded daily. These improvements have increased the refinery’s operational capacity by about 30 percent.
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