ISTANBUL
The first convoy of Iraqi fuel tankers entered Syrian territory Wednesday via the Al-Tanf–Al-Walid border crossing, heading toward the coastal Baniyas refinery in preparation for export to global markets, Syrian authorities said.
The Syrian Petroleum Company said the initial convoy includes 299 tankers carrying refined fuel, marking a step toward restoring Syria’s role as a regional energy transit corridor.
As additional convoys arrive, technical teams will begin unloading the fuel into storage tanks before transporting it to the Baniyas oil terminal on the Mediterranean coast for shipment by sea, the company said.
The operation reflects the readiness of Syria’s infrastructure and workforce to manage transit operations under high standards, it added.
The company said it remains committed “to strengthening this strategic role to support national interests and contribute to regional energy stability” while providing reliable alternatives amid current developments.
The development comes a day after Syrian authorities announced the reopening of the Al-Tanf–Al-Walid crossing with Iraq after 11 years of closure.
The crossing had been shut since May 2015 following the takeover of the border area by the ISIS (Daesh) terrorist group during its expansion across eastern Syria and Iraq’s Anbar province.
On Monday, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said during a press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that Damascus aims to serve as a secure land corridor for supply chains and energy flows, highlighting its geographic position linking East and West.
He said Damascus is engaged in discussions with regional countries to explore safe alternatives for supply chains and energy transport.
The move comes as global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran, prompting countries to consider alternative maritime and land routes.
On March 2, Iran announced restrictions on navigation through the strategic waterway and warned it would target vessels attempting to pass without coordination.
About 20 million barrels of oil pass daily through the strait, and disruptions have driven up shipping and insurance costs, raised oil prices, and fueled concerns over global economic impacts.
The US and Israel have maintained an air offensive on Iran since Feb. 28, killing so far over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.