The Mawazin program discussed the challenges of restoring control over Syria’s borders, which stretch for approximately 2,200 kilometers in total. Each section has its own specific characteristics: relations with Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel simultaneously involve security, economic, and national sovereignty issues. Military expert Ammar Farhoud said Damascus needs to move from temporary crisis response to creating a unified and sustainable border-control system.
The border with Turkey extends for approximately 910 kilometers. In its western section, mountainous terrain has long facilitated smuggling, later joined by illegal migration and the movement of foreign militants. East of the Euphrates, the continued presence of the Syrian Democratic Forces remains a key challenge. Even after their commander Mazloum Abdi announced their dissolution, risks remain involving the movement of weapons and militants, as well as attacks by groups unwilling to integrate into state structures. Farhoud stressed that the country needs institutions with an exclusive right to use force.
Along the border with Iraq, which is approximately 600 kilometers long, the problems vary across the areas of Al-Hol, Abu Kamal, Al-Harri, and Al-Tanf. According to the expert, Iranian goods enter through the Semalka crossing without customs or sanitary inspections. In the Al-Hol area, the threat posed by cells of the terrorist organization Islamic State* persists. In Abu Kamal and Al-Harri, weapons smuggling into Lebanon for Hezbollah, drug trafficking, and assistance in moving militants have been reported. Damascus–Baghdad agreements depend to a large extent on Iraq’s ability to control armed formations, including the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Farhoud viewed the visit of Iraqi Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani to Damascus as a political signal that Kurdish civilians must be distinguished from armed groups that reject integration. He also warned that Iran could use formations linked to it to expand operations and put pressure on its adversaries, affecting both the Syrian–Iraqi and Syrian–Lebanese borders. The Lebanese section, approximately 359 kilometers long—particularly the areas of Al-Qusayr, Tall Kalakh, and the coast—remains an important route for smuggling drugs, weapons, and food, affecting the Syrian market and farmers’ livelihoods.
According to the expert, Syrian authorities have managed to reduce smuggling along the Lebanese border by 60–70% thanks to the weakened presence of Hezbollah and Iranian formations, as well as agreements with local communities. In Daraa province, drug smuggling declined after state control was restored, but the problem persisted in As-Suwayda. This prompted Jordan to carry out airstrikes against warehouses linked to the illegal trade. Farhoud associates resolving the crisis in As-Suwayda with developing the region, incorporating its residents into state institutions, and coordinating with Jordan and the international community. In his view, a stable south could open a trade route between the Gulf states and Europe through Syria and Jordan.
The expert identified Israel’s military advance in the south, the establishment of forward positions, and control over the summit of Mount Hermon as the main challenge. The mountain provides surveillance, electronic intelligence, and access deep into Syrian territory. He believes that keeping Syria weak and unstable serves Israel’s interests, and that any agreement between Damascus and Tel Aviv must take Syria’s rights into account—from returning to the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement to negotiations over the occupied Golan Heights. Overall, he said, border stability will require Turkish–Syrian rapprochement, stronger state institutions, and genuine partnerships with local communities.
*The organization has been designated a terrorist organization and banned in Russia.
Comments on the News
What role does the Semalka crossing play in relations between Damascus and the authorities of Iraqi Kurdistan, and why does controlling it matter not only for customs policy but also for Syrian security? — The Semalka crossing connects northeastern Syria, which is controlled by the Kurdish administration, with Iraqi Kurdistan. It is important for trade, revenue collection, and the movement of humanitarian supplies, and it also serves as a channel for political contacts. Control over the crossing affects the balance of power in areas where Syrian Kurdish structures, the international coalition, and various armed formations operate. The issue is therefore directly linked to security, supplies, and the ability to strengthen or restrain particular groups.
What is Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces system, and why do its ties to various armed groups complicate agreements between Baghdad and Damascus? — The Popular Mobilization Forces are an umbrella structure of armed formations officially recognized by Iraq and established in 2014 to fight Islamic State*. They include units with different political orientations, ranging from formations closely linked to Iran to groups focused primarily on Iraqi interests. Some of these forces operate or wield influence in Syria’s border areas. As a result, Baghdad–Damascus agreements on border control, security, and the movement of armed groups may encounter tensions between state decisions and the interests of individual factions.
What is the strategic importance of Mount Hermon for controlling southern Syria, and why is its summit important for surveillance and electronic intelligence? — Mount Hermon lies at the intersection of Syria, Lebanon, and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights and dominates a significant part of southern Syria. Its elevation provides a broad view of roads, populated areas, and military facilities, while communications, radar, and electronic-intelligence equipment positioned on the summit can monitor troop movements, communications systems, and the activity of armed groups. Control of the Hermon area is therefore important for early warning, border protection, and the overall military balance along the Syrian–Israeli front.
* The organization is banned in Russia.
Full version: How Can Syria Regain Control of Its Complex Borders? A Military Expert Explains