Border crossing between Jordan and Syria to be reopened today

The border between Jordan and Syria will reopen today after three years of closure under rebel control, the kingdom’s government said.

“This was a crucial artery of trade between Jordan and Syria and transit to other countries,” government spokeswoman Jumana Ghunaimat said.

Weeks of talks led to the reopening, a key moment in the return to normality for the economy of post-war Syria.

Syrian government forces retook the Nassib crossing in July with help from Russia, driving rebels from their stronghold in the country’s south-west.

Technical teams on both sides of the border met in Jordan yesterday, where the decision was made. Amman wanted guarantees from Moscow to restore stability to the border, where they fear a spillover of radicalism pose a threat.

But the crossing will not be open to normal traffic just yet, Nael Husami, the head of the Amman chamber of industry said yesterday.

The roads leading to the crossing on the Syrian side of the border are being repaired, said Syria’s Interior Minister, Mohammed Al Shaar. An air offensive by Russian planes made travel on Syria’s roads slow and unpredictable.

Nassib crossing was a key point for moving goods between Europe and the Gulf before war broke out in 2011, but in 2015 it was captured by rebels.

At the end of last month, Syrian state media said the border had reopened but this was denied by Jordan, which said the two sides were still studying the possibility.

Syria’s only other normally operating border is with Lebanon. Its frontier with Turkey is only open into rebel-held areas and its crossing with Iraq is only available for government or military use.

Yesterday Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari arrived in Damascus for a three-day visit. Iraq and Syria have said they want to reopen their frontier.