Turkey has closed its airspace for flights to and from northern Iraq due to increased “terrorist activity” in the region, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
The measure, which entered into force this Monday and is valid until July 3, affects flights at Sulemania International Airport, controlled by the Iraqi Kurdistan regional government, where alleged “terrorists” have infiltrated and threaten security. aerial.
In view of Ankara’s decision, Turkey’s national airline, Turkish Airlines, suspended its flights to Sulemania from Wednesday morning “until further notice,” a company official told the DPA news agency.
The airline flew twice a day to Sulemania, an important city for Turkey due to Turkey’s strong trade ties with the region.
The Kurdish separatist armed group Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been involved in the armed struggle for an independent Kurdistan since 1984, is an enemy of Turkey, which describes it as a “terrorist” organization, as well as the European Union and the United States. Joined. state
Ankara has cultivated close ties with Iraqi Kurdistan over the years and has several military posts in the region, where it regularly attacks suspected PKK enclaves.
Source: TSF
