Syrian government officially reopens major border crossing with Jordan

The Assad government will reopen a major border crossing with Jordan today as the regime continues to reclaim major pieces of territory from rebel forces.

The Nassib crossing closed it 2015, when it was captured by the rebels. Continued victories by the government raise the prospect of billions of dollars of goods transiting the country once again. Some return to normality will be essential in any effort to reconstruct the country’s shattered economy.

With prospects for a peaceful resolution still elusive, the reopening of the crossing does at least begin to float the question of how the country will be reconstructed. Trade is unlikely to resume to a level that pre-dates the civil war in the medium-term, however it will be an important point for Damascus and Moscow to highlight as they claim an imminent end to the conflict. Questions about reconstruction will soon follow, despite the Arab world remaining deeply divided over the conflict. Economic and sanctions pressure on traditional allies Russia and Iran make it unlikely that large-scale reconstruction financing will be available to Syria in the medium-term.

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