Historic gasoline shipment from US to Iraq via Syria
A tanker flying the Marshall Islands flag arrived at Syria's Baniyas port from Houston, carrying about 234,000 barrels of gasoline, the first US shipment to Syria. The Syrian Petroleum Company spokesperson said the shipment is not for Syria and will be transported by tankers to Iraq under an agreement between the two countries. Three tankers arrived; the first was unloaded with about 32,000 tons of gasoline.
Why it matters: This matters for the theme of sanctions: the lifting of US sanctions enables the first American fuel shipment to Syria, which is then re-routed to Iraq.