Semalka’s closure was unilateral decision by KRG – AANES
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) said on Saturday that the decision to close the Semalka-Faysh Khabur border crossing “was taken without informing us of any reasonable reasons or giving any details.”
On Thursday, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) closed Semalka-Faysh Kahbur border crossing, which links the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and northeast Syria, until further notice and without giving details.
The US intervened and mediated between both sides, the AANES and the KRG, to reopen the border crossing. However, the American efforts did not succeed and the crossing has remained closed.
On Friday, the crossing administration notified holders of European residency permits who are visiting northeast Syria that they do not have a deadline to return to the KRI, adding they can return whenever they want but only on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays.
The AANES, in its Saturday’s statement, rejected “using the humanitarian crossing repeatedly for political ends.”
Earlier on Saturday, a second round of American mediation has taken place between both parties. A US official working with the US-led Global Coalition described, in his talk to North Press, the second round of talks as “positive”.