Iraq Explores Overland Trade Route to Turkey Through Syria

Iraq is examining an overland trade route to Turkey that would cross Syria and span approximately 1,200 kilometers. The route would allow goods to move by land instead of relying on existing sea or air corridors.

Background and obstacles Iraqi officials have expressed some hesitation.

Iranian-backed militias inside Iraq oppose the government in Damascus, which could complicate approval. Trade considerations may outweigh sectarian differences, according to the reporting. A photograph from December 2021 shows Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters during a security operation in Kirkuk province after Islamic State militants briefly seized a village.