Semalka border crossing

The closure of the Semalka-Faysh Khabur crossing by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which connects its areas of control with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) areas on December 15, 2021, led to the worsening of the economic situation in the regions of northeast Syria and a sharp rise in food prices, especially since the crossing is considered the main artery and one of the main outlets for the residents of the area, through which foodstuff, medicines and commercial materials are enter to northeast Syria.

In conjunction with the closure of the crossing, the Syrian regime closed its crossings with the Autonomous Administration in Manbij, Tabqa and Raqqa, which aggravated the living crisis in the region, and doubled the suffering of the people. It is no coincidence that these events were preceded by a few days of visits by some international and local personalities to South Kurdistan (KRG regions) like the Special Envoy for the Russian President, Mikhail Bogdanov and some figures close to the Syrian regime and Russia, such as the so-called Parwin Ibrahim.

Despite the appeal of many international and local organizations to the KRG to open it, the crossing was temporarily opened only after an American mediation that lasted for more than a month, and under conditions, according to a report by the American al-Monitor website, where the report noted that the KRG refused to fully reopen the borders until the protests on the borders stop. It also stipulated that the Autonomous Administration issue official work permits to Iraqi Kurdish associations funded by the Barzani family, which used humanitarian aid in northeastern Syria as a cover for various activities.

 The systematic campaign to close the crossings, which was followed by the Syrian regime and the Russians, with the support of the KRG at the same time, came to tighten the screws on the Autonomous Administration and make concessions to serve the interests of these parties, and this was evident in the conditions set out in al-Monitor’s report.