Interesting developments in the news from Syria: Iraqi border authorities have confirmed that 70 tanker trucks carrying crude oil have crossed the Rabia border crossing into Syrian territory. What’s striking is that this marks the return of a trade route that has been completely stalled for 13 years.

For those following these developments, the Rabia crossing is located in Niniveh province in northwestern Iraq, near the main oil fields of Mosul and Kirkuk. It had remained closed since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011, a very long period of disruption. This year, in April, an official reopening was carried out.

This oil transport route represents a fairly significant signal for the region. It is not just a commercial matter, but also reflects geopolitical changes taking place. The resumption of flows between Iraq and Syria after such a long time suggests a normalization of relations and greater stability in cross-border operations. We’ll see whether this trend continues to develop or remains an isolated event.