Direct road transport between Türkiye and Syria resumes after 13 years

Anadolu Agency

Direct road transport between Türkiye and Syria has restarted after more than a decade. The move is expected to boost trade and support Syria’s post-war recovery.

The roads between Türkiye and Syria are open once again as confirmed byTürkiye’s Minister of Transport, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, who said that the move which comes after 13 years marks a major step in reconnecting the two neighbors.

Trucks carrying goods have begun to travel directly between Mersin and Aleppo, and Idlib and Mersin, eliminating the need for costly transfers at the border.

Officials say the move will speed up deliveries to Jordan and Saudi Arabia as well, strengthening trade and lowering transport costs across the wider region.

The reopening follows the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, and the formation of a new transitional administration in Damascus.

Since then, Ankara has expanded cooperation with Syria, signing a memorandum on road transport and holding technical talks to make this return to normal operations possible.

Beyond trade, Türkiye is playing a central role in helping Syria rebuild after years of conflict, supporting the restoration of power plants and energy infrastructure, and providing expertise in health, agriculture, and other vital sectors.

At the same time, Turkish forces remain active along the border, continuing operations against terrorist groups that once destabilized both countries.

Officials stress that these renewed transport links symbolize more than just trucks on the road; they represent growing stability, new opportunities for exporters and regional economies, and the possibility of a fresh chapter in Turkish-Syrian relations.

Tags