Iraq and Syria will work together to avoid the Strait of Hormuz

On 16 July, informed officials of the United States Government indicated on 14 July that Iraq and Syria would restart a long-defunct oil pipeline to transport oil from the northern Iraqi oil fields to Syrian Mediterranean ports, thus avoiding the Strait of Hormuz. According to informed sources, the United States Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq, Barak, has held talks with Iraq, Syria and relevant United States companies to discuss the resumption of the pipeline. The pipeline, originally built in 1952, was located in Kirkuk, Iraq, to the east, to Baniyas, Syria, about 800 kilometres long, with an average capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. The pipeline was severely damaged and permanently abandoned during the Iran-Iraq war and the Iraq war. According to the information received, the pumping station and the power system of the pipeline were badly damaged and required extensive repairs, which could take two to three years. (In Russian)