Iraqi oil tanker drivers heading to Syria appeal to Baghdad for protection
Iraqi oil tanker drivers heading to Syria appeal to Baghdad for protection
2026-07-09
Shafaq News – Baghdad/Damascus
On Thursday, a number of Iraqi oil tanker drivers working on the oil pipeline from Iraq to Syria appealed to the relevant authorities in the Iraqi government, demanding protection for them while passing through Syrian territory, and the provision of special unloading areas.
According to a video posted on social media and followed by Shafaq News Agency, the drivers confirmed that they are frequently subjected to shootings, looting and robbery while traveling on the roads used by the tankers, which poses a direct threat to their lives and to the movement of oil products within Syrian territory.
The drivers explained that they had previously appealed to the relevant authorities, including Syrian customs, to intervene and take measures to ensure their safety, but they did not receive any response, according to what was stated in their video recordings.
They also demanded that the necessary security protection be provided and that tankers be escorted on roads that witness security incidents, in order to ensure the continuation of oil transport and the protection of workers in this sector, stressing that if the Iraqi government does not respond to their demands, they will be forced to stop working in order to protect their lives and avoid the risks they are exposed to while transporting shipments.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, this comes at a time when oil transport between Iraq and Syria is witnessing increasing activity, coinciding with the entry of large numbers of tankers into Syrian territory on a daily basis, and the escalation of the fuel crisis in all Syrian governorates to unprecedented levels, which makes providing protection for transport lines essential to maintain the safety of drivers and the continuation of supply operations.
The Observatory stressed that the continued attacks on tanker drivers and transport convoys highlight the security challenges that still face the movement of goods and land transport in some Syrian regions, which calls for effective measures to protect civilians and workers in this field.
shafaq.com
