Jordan closes key border crossing with Syria

Jordan’s Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya has ordered the closure of the main border crossing with Syria, known as Nassib, located 15 kilometres south of the Syrian city of Daraa.

The decision was made due to the deteriorating security situation in southern Syria, where the offensive by anti-government forces is ongoing, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The Nassib border crossing between Jordan and Syria had been shelled by militants. According to the source, dozens of passengers and trucks have been stranded in the area.

The militants have taken control of the checkpoint on the Syrian side. Mazen al-Faraya clarified that Jordanian trucks would be allowed to return to Jordan through the checkpoint, but travel in the opposite direction is currently blocked.

On November 27, clashes erupted in the western part of Aleppo province in northern Syria between the forces of Assad's regime and armed groups opposing the regime. From November 27 to 28, the armed groups rapidly advanced from the western areas of Aleppo toward the city centre and, by November 30, took control of most part of Aleppo. On November 30, the armed groups also seized control of the city of Khan Shaykhun and the entire Idlib province.

On December 5, after intense fighting, the opposition took control of the city of Hama. The groups opposing Bashar al-Assad's regime also captured several strategically important towns in Homs province, which they view as "gateways" to Damascus, and began pushing forward. On December 1, the Syrian National Army liberated the Tel Rifaat area from YPG (the Syrian wing of the PKK) terrorists as part of the Operation "Dawn of Freedom".

By Naila Huseynova