Cross-border traffic and trade between Syria and Türkiye continued to surge in the first eight months of 2026, with more than 1.23 million travelers and 46,480 commercial trucks passing through the Öncüpınar (Bab al-Salama) border crossing.
That's according to Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports and Customs, which said the trucks, moving in both directions, carried nearly 1.1 million metric tons of goods over the period.
Meanwhile, more than 73,000 Syrians reportedly returned voluntarily to Syria through the crossing during the first eight months of the year.
The increased movement comes as Syria and Türkiye seek to strengthen border infrastructure and facilitate trade and transportation, enhancing the role of border crossings in boosting economic ties and opening overland trade routes linking Türkiye and Syria with Arab markets.
On the Turkish side, modernization and expansion work is underway at border crossings with Syria to accommodate growing passenger, truck and cargo traffic. The Öncüpınar Customs Gate in Kilis province, opposite Syria's Bab al-Salama crossing, is among the main crossings undergoing development to increase capacity and improve the flow of traffic.
