The latest in U.S. attempts to put Damascus under full siege

Heaven forbid, we're not trying to starve the Syrians into overthrowing Assad. No no we're doing this for humanitarian reasons. All right, Pundita, calm down. I won't let you return to the Syrian War if you get hysterical every time you read FARS.  Breathe into a paper bag.

And no, this following FARS report isn't Iranian or Lebanese propaganda; the situation has been reported on by various press outlets ever since the Nassib Crossing was first reopened. It's just that the sources FARS quotes now report that it's escalating. 

There were some technical aspects to be worked out between Jordan and Syria about the reopening of Nassib Crossing and this might have also been the case for Lebanon and Syria; I can't recall for certain. But at least between Jordan and Syria, the difficulties have been worked out so now everyone is raring to go with the cross-border trade.  

Yet from everything I've seen over the months, it looks to me as if Jordan could be the primary target in this latest escalation. The Saudis and maybe some other Gulf Arab governments under Saudi prodding want Jordan to remain an economic basket case because that's how they maintain control over the country. That's been the problem for Jordan with the lengthy closure of the crossing; it's hurt them very badly financially. I think it's the same to a lesser degree with Lebanon, which will also profit from a full restoration of the cross-border trade. 

In any case, the country hurting the most from the U.S. attempts to box in Damascus is Syria.    
   
US Pressuring Jordan to Block Vital Border Crossing with Syria
July 13, 2019 - 1:47
FARS

TEHRAN (FNA)- A leading Lebanese newspaper reported that the US has increased pressures on Jordan to close the key border crossing of al-Nassib with Syria in line with Washington's attempts to put Damascus under full siege.

The Arabic-language al-Akhbar newspaper wrote that Washington seeks to reduce trade exchanges between Syria and Jordan at al-Nassib passageway in Southern Syria which is one of the two crossings for export of Syrian products to the Persian Gulf littoral states.

It also revealed the US attempts to close all important economic lifelines to Syria, adding that Washington has also sanctioned all countries and companies which sent oil to Banias refinery in Syria and is attempting to pave the ground for the US-backed Kurds to take control of Eastern Euphrates, which is rich in oil and gas resources.

Meantime, the US forces which have occupied al-Tanf border crossing which links Jordan to Iraq are attempting to gain control of Albu Kamal-al-Qaem border passageway too.

Also, al-Akhbar reported that reopening of al-Nassib passageway and trade exchanges and ties between the Syrian and Jordanian nations has displeased the West and certain Arab states, adding that many believe that the US intensified economic sanctions against Syria after al-Nassib passageway reopened.

Official reports said that nearly 800 trucks crossed al-Nassib on a daily basis before the crisis in Syria, but the number decreased to 47 trucks in the first 5 months of the current year after the US pressures to prevent trade through the passageway.

Al-Nassib border-crossing in Southern Syria, connecting Dara'a province to Jordan, was reopened officially last October after three years of closure due to the terrorists' presence in the region.

Differences between Damascus and Amman were reported [months ago] over reopening of the border-crossing. After a new agreement between Damascus and Amman, the Nassib border-crossing has now kicked off operation. Several vehicles crossed the border and have entered Syria from Jordan via the Nassib passageway.
[END REPORT]
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