Syria, Iraq agree to link their customs systems at border crossings

Syria and Iraq have agreed to digitally link their customs systems at border crossings, Syrian state news agency Sana reported. The two sides agreed to digitally link Syrian and Iraqi customs systems, streamlining procedures, improving data sharing, and speeding up transactions to facilitate trade and ease transit flows.

Iraq and Syria have three official crossings: Al Qaim-Abu Kamal crossing (open since June 2025), as well as Al Tanf-Waleed and Yarubiyah-Rabia crossings, both reopened last April as Iraq rushed to move crude overland to Syrian ports as a reroute around Hormuz. Similarly, on the Turkish side of the border, five crossings are currently being upgraded to accommodate growing trade flows, estimated at 17% y-o-y during the first seven months of 2026.

GO DEEPER- For years, Syria served as the region’s fastest, most cost-effective and heavily used land corridor between Europe and neighboring markets. The conflict effectively shut that route down, allowing Jordan to become a key intermodal transit hub instead. Last March, we looked at Syria’s potential to reclaim that role as the conflict draws to a close — and the infrastructure, security, and other obstacles that could get in the way.