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ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE: Sputnik/Mikhail Alaeddin
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) deployed a large force in the T2 Station near the border with Iraq on April 16, the pro-government al-Masdar News blog reported, citing a military source.
According to the source, the reinforcements were sent to the border area to secure the international highway linking Syria and Iraq as the two countries prepare to reopen the strategic Qa’im border crossing, that has been closed since 2012.
Last week, head of Iraq’s Border Crossing Authority Kazim al-Aqabi confirmed that the crossing will be reopened once all the requirements for commercial exchange and the passage of people are prepared.
“These requirements will be met within a maximum of six months,” al-Aqabi said.
Al-Masdar contradicted the timeline set by al-Aqabi and claimed that the Qa’im border crossing will be reopened before the end of April. The blog’s claims have not been confirmed or denied yet.
The Damascus government is in rush to reopen the Syrian-Iraqi border, as this could ease the economic crisis in the country. Furthermore, Damascus will be able to receive supplies directly from Tehran, once the border crossing is reopened.
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