Dozens of Iraqi oil tankers began crossing into Syria on Monday through the newly reopened Rabia–Yarubiyah border gate, creating a strategic overland alternative as Iran effectively closes the Strait of Hormuz. The first convoy of 70 trucks, loaded with products from Kirkuk, Baiji, and Irbil’s Kar refinery, streamed through Nineveh province amid rising regional maritime tensions.

“Trucks from all these locations head to Yarubiyah gate,” said driver Ahmad Hamdi, noting that Al-Walid gate serves Doura and Shuaiba refineries. Iraqi oil officials provided free diesel to support the convoys bound for Syria’s Baniyas port, where fuel will be shipped to European markets.

Though trucking is slower and costlier than maritime routes, the reopened crossing—closed for over a decade due to conflict—offers a vital workaround. “Work is continuing to dispatch as many trucks as possible to increase state revenue,” said border official Basim Shith Mohammed, signaling a continuous flow that could reshape regional energy logistics.

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