It's interesting to think how non-linear progress is; geopolitical tensions ended this overland route and it would still be incredibly risky.

Related, the Damascus <-> Baghdad bus from the 1930s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlmpfHuLo14

It's a Calum documentary. He does these in-depth studies of historical curiosities like snow trains and WW2 rescue buoys. One of my favorite channels.