Russian rockets targeting IS in Syria pass Kurdistan airspace, halts flights for second time

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – Erbil International Airport (EIA) Director Talar Fayiq stated on Monday that flights in both Erbil International Airport and Suleimaniyah airport were halted by the Iraqi federal government, due to Russian rockets passing through the Kurdistan Region airspace targeting Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.

On Sunday evening, Iraqi aviation authorities closed Kurdistan airports following Russian rockets passing the airspace. The closure will continue until Tuesday.

In a press conference that was held in EIA on Monday, Fayiq mentioned that this is the second time that Kurdistan flights have been halted by the Baghdad government. Nobody can say whether Iraqi aviation authorities in Baghdad purposely do that or not, but it is clear that this is a “political game”.

She continued, “Iraqi federal government should have reacted against the Russian rockets passing Kurdistan Region’s airspace. Russia should make cooperation with Iraq in this case or why Iraq does not ask Russia to give them the schedule of launching missiles to Syria.”

Fayiq continues. “Russian rockets cannot pass above Iraq every now and then.”

On November 23, Iraqi aviation authorities, for the same reason, halted Kurdistan flights for 48 hours, claiming that Russian rockets passing the Kurdistan sky targeting IS in Syria might hit passengers’ airplanes flying to the Kurdistan Region.