Jordan shuttered the Jabir Naseeb border crossing in 2015 after Syrian rebels took control of the other side; the closure added another strain on the Jordanian economy
Civilian traffic resumed through the main crossing at the Syrian-Jordanian border in what observers say is the most tangible sign to date of the normalization of relations between the Assad government and Jordanian authorities.
The Jabir Naseeb border post guarding the vial trade artery between Amman and Damascus reopened Monday after three years of closure due to the hostilities between Assad and his allied forces and rebels along Syria’s southern frontier.
“The numbers of arrivals and departures are increasing every day by double,” Yehya al-Saoud, a member of Jordan’s parliament, told The Media Line.
Amman shuttered Jabir Naseeb in 2015 after rebel gunmen took control of the crossing, ending freight traffic between Jordan and Syria. The closure effectively isolated the kingdom from goods transported by road from Turkey and Lebanon.
On the first day of the opening, border officials facilitated the entrance of about 70 cars heading to Damascus, according to Jordan’s Transport Ministry.
The ministry reported that 162 Jordanian subjects and 37 Syrian nationals departed the Hashemite kingdom for Syria on Monday. Thirty-two Jordanians and 16 Syrian citizens entered Jordan.
Al-Saoud explained that the reopened crossing-point is essential to revitalizing the economies in both countries after Syria’s bloody seven-year civil war.
“We desperately need to reestablish peace and stability in Damascus,” said al-Saoud, “and [opening the border] shows the solidity and cohesion of the Damascus government; the move will improve Syria’s overall situation.”
The opening of the border was expected after the May meeting of a Jordanian business delegation with Syrian trade officials—the first in five years—and the July capture of the southern city of Daraa by Assad’s army. After months of negotiations, the Jordanian government announced the terms of the border crossing agreement reached with Syrian authorities on Sunday.
After meeting with technical teams from both countries, Jordanian government spokeswoman Jumana Ghunaimat told reporters that the agreement stipulates the crossing would operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
“Jordanian citizens will be able to leave for Syria using their own cars and Jordanian cargo is allowed to enter Damascus based on the agreement,” Ghunaimat said.
“Jordanians residing in Syria are allowed to enter Amman via the border crossing and Syrian residents of Jordan or of third countries can travel to Damascus through the crossing, provided they possess valid documents,” the spokeswoman added.
“Syria benefits directly, but Jordan, Lebanon, and Gulf countries will see enormous long-term advantages,” Qassem Qasser, a Lebanese political analyst, told The Media Line.
The closure of the crossing increased the cost of exports between Jordan and Lebanon, Qasser explained. “Now with its reopening, prices will decrease,” he added.
The agreement signed last week authorizes Syrian cargo to enter Jordan after undergoing inspection procedures. But Jordan’s Transport Ministry said no movement of freight has yet occurred due to the need to reestablish customs clearance offices at the newly opened border crossing.
Certain areas of Syria’s northern border—primarily the areas held by the Syrian regime—are still closed. Ankara has allowed the transit of goods and people only into territory controlled by the rebels. But Syrian officials see a trend toward normalizing ties with the surrounding countries after Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari met his Syrian counterpart in Damascus earlier this week.
The official Sana news agency reported on Sunday that al-Jaafari and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem discussed “speeding up” the reopening of al-Waleed border crossing.
Al-Waleed was captured by Islamic State fighters in 2015 and only retaken last year by Iraqi forces. But with the demise of ISIS and the diminishing footprint of rebel groups, analysts are downplaying the risks of re-opening borders.
Jordan’s Interior Ministry announced that security officials in the border governorate of Mafraq—where the crossing-point is located—are actively monitoring threat levels.
“Terrorists usually don’t use official crossing-points,” Qasser said, adding that “high security will be maintained by Jordanian and Syrian forces.”