US State Department official announces rapid opening of Semalka border crossing on Syria-Iraqi border

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — On December 15, the Semalka border crossing was closed from the side of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Since then, talks are ongoing between the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria and the KRI government to reopen the border crossing between the two autonomous regions.

Director of Political Transition in Syria at the US State Department Terry Flynn told North Press Agency that the Semalka border crossing will soon be reopened. An ongoing closure of the Semalka crossing would negatively affect the DAA and exacerbate the already existing crises, including the noticeable increase in prices of medicines and foodstuffs.

The regions of North and East Syria mainly depend on the commercial movement through the Semalka border crossing, after the continued closure of al-Yaroubiya border crossing following a Russian veto. In 2012, the Semalka border crossing was established by placing an iron bridge over the Tigris River to facilitate the passage of goods.