Iraqi parliament speaker calls for opening of Jordanian border

Following the Iraqi victory in Rutba, the speaker of parliament has called for the reopening of Trebil border crossing.

2 min read

20 May, 2016

Could the Iraq-Jordanian border be re-opened? [Getty]

Salim al-Jabouri, Iraq's parliamentary speaker, has called for the opening of the Trebil border crossing connecting Iraq with Jordan, stressing that the reopening would improve the economic situation in Iraq.

"We look optimistically to the recent victories achieved in Anbar province and we acknowledge that terrorism and military operations witnessed in the province weighted heavily on the economic situation of the Iraqi people," he said.

The checkpoint has been open only sporadically in recent years due to the precarious situation in Iraq, but was closed permanently by Jordanian authorities last year after Islamic State group attacks targeted the area.

Despite its prolonged closure, Jabouri said the liberation of Rutba from IS may pave the way to reopening the crossing.

An officer in the Iraqi border guard in the area told The New Arab that Iraqi forces had started to liberate the road linking the crossing and Rutba, and were attempting to clear mines and explosive devices from the area.

Earlier this week Iraqi forces and the international coalition succeeded in reclaiming the town of Rutba, in the west of Anbar province, and are now moving towards the border areas between Iraq, Syria and Jordan.

A member of the security committee in Anbar province, Raja al-Issawi, said that clashes between IS and Iraqi forces had already begun in the area.