IN PICTURES: Reopening of Erbil - Kirkuk main road after 10 months of closure

author_image Sangar Ali
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway officially reopened Sunday morning, after ten months of being shut down.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - The Erbil-Kirkuk highway officially reopened Sunday morning, after ten months of being shut down.

Both Erbil police and Iraqi federal police officers were present during the reopening of the road. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
Both Erbil police and Iraqi federal police officers were present during the reopening of the road. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)

The main road connecting the Erbil and Kirkuk provinces was closed to civilians after the attack and Oct. 16 takeover of the oil-rich, disputed region of Kirkuk by Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militias.

Both Erbil police and Iraqi federal police officers were present during the reopening of the road. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
Both Erbil police and Iraqi federal police officers were present during the reopening of the road. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)

The road is a strategic route between the two provinces, and it is also used as the main highway for Iraqis and Kurds traveling between the Kurdistan Region and other central and southern provinces of Iraq.

Editing by Nadia Riva

The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)
The Erbil-Kirkuk highway was officially reopened on Aug. 19 morning after 10 months of shutting down. (Photo: Kurdistan 24/Shvan Harki)