Kurdistan border crossing with Turkey temporarily closed

ZAXO, Kurdistan Region (K24) – The international border crossing of Ibrahim Khalil - located between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey closed on Monday due to ongoing clashes taking place in the area between the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Turkish army on both sides of the Iraq-Turkey border.

On Monday, the Deputy Director of Ibrahim Khalil Security, Anas Sinduri told K24 that the border crossing closed Monday afternoon at 2:00 pm (ERBIL time). "All business activities and tourist movement were stopped on the border," he said.

Sinduri stated that the clashes between both sides continued and “it is not clear that when the border will be re-opened.”

Ibrahim Khalil is one of the most important international border crossing for the Kurdistan Region economically. Such closures inflict significant economic damage to the Kurdistan Region. 

It is not the first time that the border crossing has been closed, and has happened several times over the last months. Such closures do not only damage the economy of the Kurdistan Region but also that of Turkey.

Since last June's elections in Turkey, instability has increased in the Kurdish-majority areas of Turkey in the southeast of the country. Clashes between the Turkish army and PKK fighters have forced a large number of people to leave their houses and move to safer places.

As clashes continue, Turkish warplanes have shelled the Qandil Mountain range in the Kurdistan Region, an area considered to be the main headquarter of the PKK.