Jaber Border Crossing (Jordan): Jordan on Monday reopened its main border crossing with war-torn Syria, a key Middle East trade route, after a three year closure, an AFP photographer reported.
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, the photographer said. Several cars bearing Jordanian license plates queued to enter Syria, the photographer added, as travellers expressed their joy at being able to cross the border. "Today is a celebration for us and I wanted to be among the first to cross the border," said Syrian businessman Mohammed Hisham as he waited for his turn to enter Syria from Jordan where he now lives.
Jordanian taxi driver Imad Sariheen called the reopening of Jaber a source of "great happiness for all of us" which will help ease "economic hardships" caused by the closure of the crossing. "Our conditions have worsened over the past years. Our work (driving taxis) was halted because of the closure of the border between Jordan and Syria," he added.
The border crossing, known as Jaber on the Jordanian side and Nassib on the Syrian side, was a key trade route before Amman closed it after the post was overrun by rebels in April 2015. The crossing was a major link not only for direct trade between the neighbouring countries but also for longer-distance transit, which was a signficant source of revenue.
The reopening comes after Syrian government troops retook their side of the crossing in July under a deal with rebel fighters brokered by
Moscow.