Damascus, April 1 (SANA) Convoys carrying Iraqi fuel began entering Syrian territory on Wednesday through the Al-Tanf border crossing, heading to the Baniyas oil port for export to global markets, highlighting Syria’s role as a regional transit hub.
The Syrian Petroleum Company said shipments would be unloaded into storage facilities before being transferred to the Baniyas terminal for loading onto tankers designated for export.
The move comes as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for roughly 20% of global oil shipments, has been severely disrupted due to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, affecting international energy markets and shipping routes.
Safwan Sheikh Ahmad, the company’s director of corporate communications, told SANA that the first convoy includes 299 tankers, describing the move as a step toward restoring Syria’s role as a key energy corridor in the region.
He said the operation is expected to boost transit activity, generate state revenue and support broader economic recovery efforts.
The company said the process reflects the readiness of Syria’s infrastructure and the capacity of its technical teams to manage transit operations in line with international standards.
Officials said the initiative is expected to support stability in regional energy markets and reinforce Syria’s position as a Mediterranean gateway for transporting oil and petroleum products.
The development follows the reopening on Tuesday of the Al-Tanf–Al-Waleed border crossing between Syria and Iraq, part of efforts to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries.
