The Syrian government closed the al-Tabqa, al-Hawra and al-Sabkha crossings in the countryside of Raqqa on March 21. The closure stopped civilians and commercial trucks from passing between government-controlled areas in northeast Syria and those held by the Syrian Democratic Forces and led to an increase in the prices of foodstuffs, building materials, medicines and medical equipment in the SDF-controlled areas.
The closures appear to be intended to pressure the SDF to allow more fuel into regime-controlled areas that are in a stifling fuel crisis, as most oil wells are located in the area are under the control of the SDF.
