Iraq temporarily suspends all civilian air traffic amid regional tensions
In an official statement, the ministry's communications office stated, "Due to regional tensions, Iraqi air traffic has been suspended to ensure the safety of civilian aviation in Iraqi airspace."
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced Saturday the temporary suspension of all civilian air traffic across all Iraqi airports.
In an official statement, the ministry's communications office stated, "Due to regional tensions, Iraqi air traffic has been suspended to ensure the safety of civilian aviation in Iraqi airspace."
The statement further detailed that "The General Company for Airports and Air Travel Management has begun clearing Iraqi airspace of all current flights, including transit aircraft, to ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft crossing our airspace."
The announcement also noted, "The General Company for Iraqi Airways has temporarily suspended all flights as a precautionary measure until further notice, prioritizing passenger safety."
This decision comes after Israel launched strikes against Iran early Saturday morning, in retaliation for Iran's extensive ballistic missile attack against Israel on Oct. 1.