Youssef Qablawi, CEO of the Syrian Petroleum Company, stated that the project to rehabilitate the line from Haditha to the port of Baniyas is entering its final contractual phase. Engineering studies and material procurement are slated to follow, with construction expected to span between 30 and 36 months. Once completed, the twin-pipeline system aims to transport between 1.5 million and 2 million barrels per day, providing a vital alternative for Iraq’s energy sector.

The initiative has garnered backing from the United States, which views the project as a strategic move to insulate Iraqi exports from potential Iranian interference in the Strait of Hormuz. For Baghdad, which suffered billions in lost revenue when regional tensions choked off traditional shipping lanes, this route offers a necessary hedge. Washington has signaled an interest in seeing American firms participate in the reconstruction, aiming to bolster Syria’s post-war economy while curbing Tehran’s leverage over global oil transit.