The reopening of the strategic al-Qa’im border crossing between Syria and Iraq has been delayed, for the second time this month.
Citing Iraqi officials, the Lebanese al-Mayadeen TV reported on September 13 that the crossing will be reopened within ten days.
The reopening of the al-Qa’im crossing was scheduled on September 7. However, it was once again delayed, likely due to the hesitation of the Iraqi Federal Government.
On September 8, Israeli warplanes targeted an alleged Iranian missile base a few kilometers southwest of the crossing. This may further complicate the reopening of the strategic crossing.
Click to see full-size map. Via Google Earth.
The al-Qa’im crossing has been closed for more than five years now. Iraqi government forces liberated the eastern part of Qa’im in November 2017. Within a few days, the Syrian military liberated the western part of the crossing, near the city of al-Bukamal.
The reopening of the strategic crossing will likely boost the trade between Syria and Iraq. This would further damage the U.S. “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran and its allies.
