The border between Iraq and Syria, stretching for over 600 kilometers across the arid Jazira plain, has become one of the most fluid and contentious frontiers in the Middle East. Decades of political instability and conflict have profoundly shaped its character, making any crossing an undertaking that requires serious consideration of the current security landscape.
Historically, there were three main official border crossings. The northernmost is the Al-Yaarubiyah-Rabia crossing, connecting the two countries’ Kurdish regions. In the center is the Al-Qa’im-Abu Kamal crossing, situated on the Euphrates River, which was a major route between Baghdad and Damascus. The southernmost crossing is Al-Waleed-Al-Tanf, located in a remote desert area near the Jordanian tripoint.
For you as a traveler, the status of these crossings is highly unpredictable and subject to the control of various state and non-state actors. At present, most of this border is not considered safe or viable for civilian travel. The Al-Waleed-Al-Tanf crossing, for example, is in a region with a significant foreign military presence and is not open for public use.
The Al-Qa’im crossing has been a focal point in the conflict with ISIS and has been intermittently closed or under the control of militias. The only crossing that has seen some semblance of regular operation is Al-Yaarubiyah, but its use is often restricted to commercial goods or specific authorized individuals. You must consult the most current security and diplomatic advisories before even contemplating a journey to this border region.