The border crossing is close to the vital oil pipeline tie-in at Fish-Khabur, where the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) oil export pipeline meets the federal pipeline (currently not operational) and continues through Turkey to the Ceyhan export terminal. Controlling this has been a key prize in recent fighting near Rabia, as well as in the US-mediated negotiations that followed a October 27 ceasefire.
The KRG will urgently seek a revenue-sharing deal with Baghdad to avoid economic collapse, but it is in a very weak negotiating position.
If Baghdad takes control of the pipeline, covert ‘trucking’ of oil exports by various parties in the KRI will likely increase.
Federal Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will gain strength ahead of April’s parliamentary elections.
