Jordan-Syria border to reopen Monday for first time in 3 years

The border crossing between Jordan and Syria will reopen on Monday after being closed for three years, the two countries said Sunday after weeks of talks.

According to the Jordanian government spokesperson Jumana Ghunaimat, Amman’s decision to reopen the Nassib Crossing was a crucial decision to boost trade between the neighboring countries.

“This was a crucial artery of trade between Jordan and Syria and transit to other countries,” she said.

This move to reopen the Nassib Crossing on Monday comes at the same time both Syria and Israel agreed to restore the Golan Heights Crossing.

The Nassib and Golan Heights crossings were both closed in early 2015 after the Syrian Arab Army lost several imperative areas along the southwestern border of the country.

‘technical issues’ behind delay in opening Nassib Crossing - Jordan

The President of the Jordanian Senate, Faysal Al-Fayez, told reporters on Friday that the reason for the delay in opening the Nassib Crossing is due to “technical issues.”

According to Fayez, the Jordanian government is working to resolve the technical issues related to the inspection and the implementation of security systems.

Once these issues are settled, the Jordanian government will work with their counterparts in Damascus to reopen the Nassib Crossing for the first time in several years.

The Syrian government announced last month that they were prepared to open the Nassib Crossing on October 10th; however, it would ultimately be delayed on ‘Amman’s insistence.