Jordan reopens major border crossing with Syria to truck traffic
The Jaber-Nassib crossing has reopened for the first time since it was closed in August.
After the coronavirus forced Jordan to close its border crossing with Syria for more than a month, the government announced its reopening to truck traffic on Sunday.
Jordan closed all of its land crossings to travelers in March, keeping the borders open only for trade. But after truck drivers entering Jordan from Syria were blamed for an uptick in COVID-19 cases, the Jordanian government sealed off the Jaber-Nassib crossing entirely in mid-August.
The Jaber-Nassib crossing is a key transit point for goods flowing from Lebanon and Syria to Gulf countries. The president of the Jordanian Truck Owners Association, Mohammad al Daoud, told Reuters the closure caused millions of dollars in losses.
The crossing opened Sunday under new social distancing and health protocols for drivers, the director of Roads Department at the Ministry of Public Works and Housing told Jordanian outlet Roya News.
