Syria-Iraq's Al-Bukamal crossing open 24/7
The Al-Bukamal (Al-Qaim) border crossing between Syria and Iraq remains open and operates 24 hours a day, Syrian authorities confirmed Monday, reporting uninterrupted movement of travelers and goods.
Speaking to Shafaq News, Mazen Alloush, director of public relations at the Syrian Border Crossings Authority, confirmed the ongoing coordination with Iraqi counterparts to maintain smooth passage on both sides of the border.
The Iraqi Interior Ministry also dismissed reports of restrictions on Syrian citizens entering Iraq during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, clarifying that all crossings continue under existing regulations without new limitations.
Earlier in June, the Syrian General Authority for Land and Sea Crossings announced the reopening of the al-Bukamal crossing to passenger and freight traffic. The crossing had been closed since December 2024 amid Syria's political upheaval, including the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime and the withdrawal of Syrian forces from the area.
Highly regarded as a strategic segment of the land route for the 'Axis of Resistance,' connecting Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, the crossing has seen repeated airstrikes and security incidents, often attributed to tensions involving regional and international armed groups.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq's CF presses for election safeguards
Shafaq News – Baghdad On Tuesday, Iraq's Shiite Coordination Framework (CF) urged the country's leadership to adopt guarantees aimed at securing the integrity of the upcoming parliamentary elections, set for November 11. In an official statement, the bloc—a key political force backing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani—called on the president, al-Sudani, parliament speaker, and chief justice to swiftly approve the framework. While the statement did not specify the proposed safeguards, similar reform demands in recent years have prioritized stricter ballot oversight, biometric voter verification, and the independence of Iraq's High Electoral Commission (IHEC). Other measures typically included tougher penalties for vote buying, transparency in campaign financing, and greater engagement from civil society and international monitors. The November vote will be Iraq's first national election since the disputed 2021 polls, which saw low turnout and widespread allegations of irregularities. According to the IHEC, over 7,900 candidates are competing for 329 parliamentary seats. More than 29 million Iraqis are eligible to vote, following months of work to update voter rolls and biometric data—marking one of the largest electorates in the country's history. However, early campaigning has revived fears of sectarian polarization, with analysts and civil society organizations warning that without meaningful safeguards, inflammatory rhetoric could aggravate political divides and weaken the legitimacy of the outcome.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Lebanon: Government to meet amid deep divide over Hezbollah's weapons
Shafaq News – Beirut Lebanon is awaiting the outcome of a government session set to convene shortly at the presidential palace on Tuesday, with a key agenda item focused on the 'exclusive state control over weapons' and the handover of Hezbollah's arms to the Lebanese Army. The session is taking place against the backdrop of a sharp political divide among participating parties. While some are pushing for a formal decision on exclusive state control over arms, others argue that such a step should come only after several conditions are met. These include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Lebanese territories, the release of Lebanese detainees captured during the recent war, and a cessation of targeted killings and daily violations of the ceasefire agreement. During a meeting between a Hezbollah parliamentary delegation and Free Patriotic Movement Leader Gebran Bassil, Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad stated that "what hinders state-building in Lebanon is the Israeli aggression, not Hezbollah." 'The worst-case scenario we must all avoid is turning the issue from a Lebanese-Israeli conflict into a Lebanese-Lebanese one,' Fayyad added, stressing that the solution must begin with the guarantor countries fulfilling their agreed obligations. Lebanese media outlets have published several reported leaks regarding the expected outcome of today's session. Among the most prominent is the possibility that the discussion on exclusive weapons control will be extended to future sessions, amid apparent concern among political factions about destabilizing the country's political and security environment.
Rudaw Net
4 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Lawmaker rejects US intervention in PMF bill
Also in Iraq Hezbollah censures Iraqi PM over deadly Baghdad clashes Iraq's reputation at 'risk' if PMF law passes: Former US diplomat Iraqi vows reconstruction, accountability 11 years after Yazidi genocide NGOs call for renewed focus on Yazidi justice on genocide's 11th anniversary A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A bill aimed at further legitimizing pro-Iran armed factions has sparked controversy in Iraq. While the United States has voiced opposition to the move, a lawmaker affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, has rejected Washington's interference. "We reject American interventions, especially regarding the issuance of laws that protect our security institutions. We believe that issuing the PMF law means transferring this force to institutional work... We insist on passing this bill and call on all political forces to cooperate as a gesture of loyalty to the martyrs' blood,' Falih al-Khazali, an Iraqi lawmaker and a PMF leader, told Rudaw on Monday. Washington has expressed increasing caution about the bill that aims to regulate the PMF's structure, salaries, and retirement benefits, a politically sensitive issue given the PMF's central role in Iraq's security framework and the political influence it wields. 'Pursuing this law can put Iraq's reputation at risk both regionally and internationally,' Vincent Campos, former public diplomacy officer at the US State Department, told Rudaw on Monday. 'This law represents everything that is wrong with Iranian influence in Iraq, and everything wrong with having, essentially, an independent militia doing whatever they want.' In response to an email from Rudaw, a State Department spokesperson on Sunday asserted Washington's staunch opposition to the law, labeling it a 'deeply unhelpful step' and explaining that its passage would empower pro-Iran militias in Iraq that have attacked US forces. Jamal Kochar, a Kurdish member of the Iraqi parliament, told Rudaw on Monday that the bill seeks more legitimacy for armed factions operating outside the state control. "The US has made clear and explicit threats against passing this bill. This [bill] would grant legitimacy to groups outside the state and allocate a massive budget to them. There are several places in Iraq that even the Prime Minister [Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani] cannot visit, like Jurf al-Sakhar [near Baghdad]... Therefore, in our view, this matter is very sensitive, and the first to be harmed will be Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds,' he warned. Steven Fagin, charge d'affaires of the US embassy in Baghdad, met with the Iraqi parliament's First Deputy Speaker Muhsin al-Mandalawi on Sunday, where he 'reiterated U.S. concerns with two proposed PMC/PMF bills,' the embassy said on X. Mandalawi's office did not mention the PMF bill in its own statement, which broadly discussed bilateral cooperation and regional security. The PMF is composed of various armed factions, including groups designated as terrorist organizations by the US. Among them is Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), whose leader Qais al-Khazali is a senior member of the Shiite-led Coordination Framework, a key component of Iraq's governing coalition. In March, AAH and the State of Law Coalition boycotted a parliamentary session after the PMF bill was excluded from the agenda, forcing its postponement. Halkawt Aziz contributed to this article.
