Iraq-Syria Energy Corridor Emerges as Regional Trade Route

The border between Iraq and Syria has transformed from a hotspot for extremist groups to an energy corridor. In recent years, the region was quiet due to a lack of conflict, but in 2014, ISIS used the long open border to invade Iraq. Later, Iranian-backed militias moved into Syria's Euphrates River Valley from Iraq.

However, today, the border is peaceful, with both countries controlling the area. The region has become an important trade route for oil and gas, with Iraq shipping oil by truck to Syria for export and Syria sending gasoline to Iraq.

Iraq's new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, aims to rein in Iranian-backed militias by June 2027, with the backing of the Trump administration. Zaidi met with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa while in New York for the UN General Assembly last week. However, Iraq views Sharaa with suspicion due to his past association with Al Qaeda members and other Sunni insurgent extremists.

Syria has begun transporting imported gasoline to Iraq through its Baniyas oil terminal under a renewable three-month agreement. The first batch of 57 trucks began moving through the al-Tanf border crossing, which is now key to the new oil and gas transit corridor.