AANES Traders Resort to Costly Detours and Smuggling Following Damascus’ Decision to Close Crossings

Traders and industrialists in the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria (AANES) areas have faced higher transportation costs in the past two months when importing goods due to the decision of the Transitional Government to close the internal crossings between the central government and AANES areas. Most traders were importing goods from Turkey via Aleppo, but are now forced to resort to a long detour via Deir-ez-Zor or to use the emerging smuggling routes via Ras Al-Ayn or Tal Abyad.