Lebanon unveils rail and port corridor to link Turkey and Gulf via Syria

September 6, 2026 at 11:26 AM1 min

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Lebanon's Public Works and Transport Minister Fayiz Rasamni announced a transit corridor linking Lebanese ports and railways to Turkey and Gulf states via Syria. The plan includes expanding Beirut Port capacity from 1.2 million to 3 million containers and Tripoli Port from 300,000 to over 1 million. Rasamni will visit Ankara soon to discuss technical details and financing.

Key Facts

Lebanon's Public Works and Transport Minister Fayiz Rasamni announced the transit corridor plan on September 6, 2026.
Beirut Port capacity is set to expand from 1.2 million to 3 million containers.
Tripoli Port capacity is planned to rise from 300,000 to over 1 million containers.
The corridor will run from Tripoli Port through Syria's rail network to Iraq, the Persian Gulf, and Turkey.
Minister Rasamni will visit Ankara to discuss technical details, financing models, and bilateral cooperation.

Corridor Route

The planned transit corridor starts at Tripoli Port and extends through Syria's railway network to Iraq, the Persian Gulf, and Turkey. Minister Rasamni said the network will not be limited to Lebanon-Syria transport but will form a continuous regional transit line. Turkey's developed rail infrastructure and proximity to Europe and the Gulf make it a vital part of the project, according to Rasamni.

Port Expansions

Work has begun to raise Beirut Port's capacity from 1.2 million to 3 million containers. Tripoli Port capacity is planned to increase from 300,000 to over 1 million containers. Rasamni said crises in regional waterways, especially the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, have sharply increased the strategic importance of Lebanese ports.

Ankara Visit

Rasamni will make an official visit to Ankara soon to discuss the project's technical details, financing models, and bilateral cooperation with his counterparts. He expressed strong confidence in Ankara's support for the process.