Jordan/Iraq: Jordan to re-open Trebil main border crossing with Iraq August 30

Event

The Jordanian-Iraqi main border crossing at Trebil will re-open on Wednesday, August 30, for the first time since 2014, according to a joint statement made by both governments. This re-opening has been made possible by recent efforts to secure the main highway between Jordan and Baghdad. Senior government, trade, and business officials are expected to attend an event on Wednesday to mark the border opening.

Context

Jordan's economy has been negatively affected by conflicts in neighboring Iraq and Syria, resulting in government debt increasing substantially in recent years to almost 100% of GDP in 2017. Jordanian officials hope that the opening of the border will help revive exports to Iraq, trade that accounted for a significant part of their GDP and that has been impacted by rising transport costs after the border closure (expensive sea routes or non-direct land routes).

In recent months, the Iraqi government has achieved much success in taking back land previously in IS control. On August 27, the Iraqi government announced they had taken back nearly all of the Tal Afar region, with IS forces confined to a small neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. This follows the Iraqi government's announcement on July 9 that Mosul had been effectively freed from IS control after months of fighting. Mosul, situated in northern Iraq, had been under IS control since 2014 and was widely considered a symbolic and strategically important stronghold for IS in Iraq.

The Iraqi military's successes against IS are likely to spur retaliatory attacks and there are indications that as IS continues to lose territory, it will increasingly employ asymmetrical means of warfare (e.g. terrorist tactics).

Advice

Individuals in Jordan are strongly advised to adhere to security instructions issued by local authorities or their home governments. Many governments have advised their nationals against all travel near the Syrian and Iraqi borders.

Individuals throughout Iraq are advised to remain vigilant due to the high risk of terrorist attacks and militant activity. The security environment in Iraq remains complex. Although travel is permissible in some areas, other areas should be considered strictly off limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to all travel.