A key border crossing between southeastern Türkiye and northern Syria reopened to limited civilian traffic on Tuesday after remaining closed since 2014 amid the Syrian conflict.
Located in Türkiye’s Şanlıurfa province, the Akçakale border crossing, opposite the Syrian town of Tel Abyad, officially resumed entry and exit operations on Tuesday, 12 May.
The decision to reopen the crossing follows a directive issued by the Turkish Interior Ministry.
According to Şanlıurfa provincial officials, a “new chapter” began when Tel Abyad’s customs directorate was transferred to Syria’s new administration earlier this year, prompting what they described as a process of “normalisation” in the restive border region.
The Akçakale crossing was first closed to traffic in 2014 as the conflict in neighbouring Syria escalated and the region became increasingly volatile.
In 2019, limited operations resumed at the crossing, although only for commercial cargo, humanitarian aid deliveries and cross-border travel by authorised public officials.
Under the latest measures, three categories of passport holders will now be permitted to cross the border.
These include Turkish citizens, Syrians with dual nationality, and Syrian nationals legally residing in Türkiye with valid work or residence permits.
During Syria’s years-long conflict, this section of the border region was particularly prone to violence.
Throughout the war, which lasted from 2011 until late 2024, Tel Abyad changed hands several times.
The border town witnessed especially intense fighting in 2015, when it was briefly seized by the ISIS terrorist group, also known locally as Daesh.
The reopening of the Akçakale crossing is considered particularly significant for Türkiye, which continues to host more than three million registered Syrian refugees, many of whom remain under temporary protection status.
Yemen's air force carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets earlier on Friday, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, Spokesman for t...
The European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus and European partners have put a six-wheeled Mars rover prototype through its paces in Spain’s Tabern...
Azerbaijan won 22 medals, including seven gold, at the Mingachevir Regatta 2026 as more than 100 young rowers from 12 countries competed in the int...
Yemen's air force carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets earlier on Friday, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, Spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthis denied targeting a power plant supplying energy to a mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel may participate in the investigation into a serious incident aboard a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, while investigators examine the motive of the co-pilot involved.
Passengers from a flydubai flight that was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged attempt to crash the aircraft have arrived safely in Israel.
Russia has warned NATO that it would be prepared to use nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to isolate Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, according to a diplomatic document seen by Reuters.
British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national as part of an investigation into a suspected plot involving RAF Fairford, an airbase used by U.S. forces for operations against Iran.
Azerbaijan won 22 medals, including seven gold, at the Mingachevir Regatta 2026 as more than 100 young rowers from 12 countries competed in the international tournament.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says the TRIPP project will establish a direct railway connection between Azerbaijan and Armenia and strengthen wider regional transport links.
Afghanistan and Tajikistan have discussed boosting electricity supplies to Afghanistan and plans for a high-voltage power line through the country to Iran, as Kabul seeks greater access to imported energy.
Türkiye has rejected a news report alleging that its intelligence service arranged secret talks between Syrian officials and Hezbollah, calling the claim “entirely unfounded.”
The Gulf is facing mounting pressure across aviation, defence and critical infrastructure as conflict, changing security arrangements and threats to water supplies reshape the region’s risk landscape.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment