Jordan on Monday reopened its main border crossing with Syria, a key Middle East trade route, after a three-year closure.
The black metal border gate was opened from the Jordanian side of the crossing at 8:00 am (0500 GMT) as more than a dozen police and customs officials stood nearby, AFP reported.
Several cars bearing Jordanian license plates queued to enter Syria, the agency added, as travelers expressed their joy at being able to cross the border.
The border crossing, known as Jaber on the Jordanian side and Naseeb on the Syrian side, was a key trade route before Amman closed it after the post was overrun by terrorists in April 2015.
The crossing was a major link not only for direct trade between the neighboring countries but also for longer-distance transit, which was a significant source of revenue.
The reopening comes after Syrian government troops retook their side of the crossing in July.
Jordanian government spokeswoman Jumana Ghneimat announced the intended reopening of the Jaber crossing on Sunday.
She said in a statement that the decision was taken after “Jordanian and Syrian technical teams agreed on the final measures needed to reopen the border during a meeting held at the Jaber crossing”.
Syria’s Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar also confirmed on Sunday the decision to reopen Jaber.
According to an agreement between Jordan and Syria, the traffic of passenger and goods at the border crossing will resume daily from 0500 GMT to 1300 GMT, according to AFP.
Source: AFP
