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The Iraqi-Syrian border after its reopening seen from the Iraqi side at al-Qaim on September 30, 2019. REUTERS / Thaier Al-Sudani

A crucial border post for trade between Iraq and Syria reopened Monday (September 30th) after a five-year shutdown. This terminal was in the hands of the Islamic State group between 2014 and 2017.

With our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Khalifeh

Arab and international media journalists were able to see Monday the first trucks of goods transiting through al-Qa'm in Iraq to the city of Boukamal, Syrian side. This is the first time in five years that this land route, controlled on the Iraqi side by Baghdad and on the Syrian side by Damascus , is operational.

This crossing will allow the transit of goods between the two countries, but will help Iran, subject to strong US sanctions, to sell its products more easily.

Although this border post is officially under the authority of the governments of both countries, in reality it is at the heart of an Iranian zone of influence. The border is controlled on the Iraqi side by Shiite militias close to Tehran. On the Syrian side, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Lebanese Hezbollah have turned the Boukamal region into an important military base.

Recognizing the importance of this passage for Iran and Syria , the United States and Israel have tried to prevent its reopening. Unknown planes carried out deadly raids on the positions of the Iranian Guardians and their allies in August and September. One of them killed 9 pro-Iranian fighters on 9 September, according to the Observatoire des droits de l'homme.

Despite this, Iran achieved its goal by restoring geographical continuity under its control, between Tehran and the Mediterranean.