HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – On the side of the M4 Highway in the village of Tel Tamr Shamiyah, north of Hasakah in northeastern Syria, 70-year-old Khalil Ramadan once began his mornings by opening his small kiosk to greet travelers and passing drivers. His large truck regularly transported grain and cotton between northeast and northwest Syria, providing him—and many others in the area—with a stable income.
Today, that routine has vanished. Since the closure of the M4 Highway, Ramadan’s kiosk remains shuttered most days, and his truck is now limited to transporting goods within Hasakah Governorate. “When the road is open, prosperity reaches everyone,” he told North Press, recalling when the highway served as a vital artery for the region.
A shortcut turned dead end
Ramadan, a resident of Tel Tamr’s countryside, said that the M4 Highway once functioned as a crucial shortcut linking cities and governorates without the need to pass through Hasakah to reach Damascus or Aleppo.
He explained that his kiosk and small restaurant relied almost entirely on the steady flow of travelers and truck drivers.
“The road’s closure stopped our work completely,” he added, expressing hope that traffic and trade would one day resume. “We want the road reopened so life and prosperity can return.”
Rising prices, shrinking trade
The impact extends far beyond individual livelihoods. Saeed Suleiman, who owns a grocery store along the M4 Highway in the Tel Tamr countryside, said the closure has dealt a heavy blow to commercial activity.
Longer alternative routes have increased fuel consumption and transport costs, leading to noticeable price hikes in basic goods, including fruit and vegetables.
“Most people here depend on this road,” Suleiman said, noting that shops, kiosks, and rest stops were built to serve travelers. “This road has nothing to do with politics. It serves the local population, yet its closure has reduced commercial activity by more than half.”
Businesses brought to a standstill
Farhan al-Ahmad, another resident and the owner of several shops along the highway, said the M4 once provided a livelihood for all businesses operating nearby. Since its closure, his four shops have shut down completely, eliminating his income.
“I built these shops to support my family and help complete my home,” al-Ahmad told North Press. “After the road closed, my income dropped by 100 percent.”
He added that the disruption has also affected transportation. Previously, the M4 connected his village to Raqqa in about two hours. Now, alternative routes—such as the Hasakah–Tel Abyad road—can take up to five hours. “We demand that the road be reopened and that safety be ensured along it,” he said.
A vital artery cut off
The M4 Highway is considered one of northern Syria’s main lifelines. Stretching from the western coast through Aleppo to the northeastern governorates, including Hasakah, it links villages and cities and facilitates freight and passenger movement. A key 120-kilometer section allowed goods to move efficiently without resorting to longer or more dangerous routes.
The highway has been particularly crucial for transporting grain, cotton, and essential goods, and for linking with the M5 Highway toward Damascus, underscoring its economic and strategic importance.
Since 2019
Commercial activity along the M4 sharply declined after the road was effectively closed in 2019 following Turkey’s military Peace Spring Operation and its occupation, along with affiliated Syrian National Army (SNA) factions, of the cities of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad.
Freight transport between regions largely ceased, confining movement of agricultural products to within Hasakah. Transportation costs surged due to longer routes, driving up prices of basic goods and placing added pressure on residents.
The area has also become unsafe, with checkpoints, shelling, clashes, fires in nearby farmland, and the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance, making civilian and commercial movement along the M4 nearly impossible.