I feel I'm getting contradictory messages.... as we all are I suppose

I'm riding up from Saudi Arabia to UK and the plan was Jordan - Damascus - Tartous - Latakia - Antalya

I've been told by people who were there recently if you just want to ride through you can arrange an army escort from border to border for around US$150

I'm so torn, I really have my heart set on going out mid August.. I suppose I'll have to wait and see

We faced the same dilema and chose to go from Qatar through Saudi, UAE, then the ferry to Iran, then Turkey, so we traded Jordan, Syria Lebanon for Iran. It should be fun, but you need a carnet, which is a pain!