Kurdistan Region of Iraq closes crossings with SDF-held areas and dismantles oil pipeline from NE Syria

Authorities of Kurdistan Region of Iraq have closed all commercial and humanitarian crossings between the region and SDF-held areas in north-east Syria. According to SOHR sources, the region’s authorities will allow the crossing of foreign workers of international organisations towards Kurdistan Region only for tomorrow. However, the authorities of Kurdistan Region of Iraq will not allow Syrian people with foreign and Iraqi residence documents to cross into the region.

 

Accordingly, the residents of north-east Syria region in the areas controlled by Autonomous Administration are stranded, with no crossings open with surrounding regions and countries, especially after the closure of Tel Joker crossing previously under an international decision.

 

It is worth noting that the crossing between SDF-held areas and Turkey have been closed since 2012. Moreover, regime forces have frequently closed crossings between regime-controlled areas and SDF-controlled areas, not to mention the harassment by regime forces against the residents passing through these crossings when they are open.

 

On the other hand, authorities of Kurdistan Region of Iraq have dismantled the pipeline feeding the region with oil from SDF-held areas. The pipeline dubbed “Odayy” was established after an agreement between Stir Kropp company in Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the Autonomous Administration no north and east Syria, stipulating providing an estimated 30,000 oil barrels a day to Kurdistan Region of Iraq at a lower price than the international oil price.