M5 Motorway (Syria)

The M5 Motorway is the most important motorway in Syria due to its length and function as the country network's south-north backbone. It is known as the "International Road."[1] It connects the border with Jordan in the south with Damascus, the country's political capital, and continues further north through Aleppo, the country's economic capital and second largest city, to the border with Turkey in the north.[1][2]

For other uses, see M5 motorway (disambiguation).

M5 Motorway
Route information
Length450 km (280 mi)
Major junctions
FromBorder with Jordan (Highway 15)
ToNorth-West of Aleppo
Location
CountrySyria
Highway system

Other cities connected by this motorway are Daraa, Al Nabk, Homs and Hama. Its length is 450 kilometres (280 mi).[1] It intersects with the M4 Motorway near Saraqib, which is the main highway from Aleppo to the port of Latakia running parallel to the border with Turkey.[2]

Syrian Civil War

Parts of the M5 have been in the control of various rebel groups in the Syrian Civil War since 2012.[2][3]

In October 2019, the north of the highway became a warzone, as Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces advanced into the Kurdish-controlled region of Rojava. Civilians had been killed near the motorway.[4][5] Turkish media also reported that it was the goal of Turkey's Operation Peace Spring to reach the M4 junction with the M5 in the Turkish occupation of northern Syria.[6]

On 14 February 2020, the Syrian Army recaptured the M5 Motorway fully for the first time since 2012 before opposition factions and Turkish forces recaptured Saraqib by 26 February and cut the highway once again on 27 February.[7][8][1][2][3] On 1 March, Saraqib was back under Syrian Army control and also regained control of the entire motorway by 3 March.[9]

On 8 March 2020, the M5 highway was reopened for civilian use.[10]

See also

References
  1. Karam, Zeina (14 February 2020). "AP Explains: Why Syria's M5 is Assad's highway to victory". Associated Press. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  2. Jansen, Michael (26 February 2020). "Capture of M5 one of the most celebrated prizes in Damascus' campaign to regain territory". The Jordan Times. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  3. "Highway Linking Largest Syrian Cities Reopens After Eight Years". Haaretz. Associated Press. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  4. Sanchez, Raf (13 October 2019). "Turkish-backed rebels accused of killing unarmed Kurdish civilians". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  5. Syrian Arab Fighters Backed by Turkey Kill Two Kurdish Prisoners Oct 13, 2019 nytimes.com
  6. "What is Turkey's plan in Syria?". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  7. al-Khateb, Khaled (27 February 2020). "Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces claim gains in Idlib". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  8. "Turkish forces and proxy factions capture Saraqeb city, cutting off Damascus-Aleppo international highway". SOHR. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  9. "Backed by Russian airpower, regime forces recapture Saraqib city only four days after Turkish forces and proxy factions captured it". SOHR. 2 March 2020.
  10. "The heavy price of capturing M5 Highway by Russian-led regime forces: 2.2 million displaced and 8,15 killed". SOHR. 8 March 2020.
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