Turkey has closed its airspace to flights to and from northern Iraq due to increased “terrorist activity” in the region, Turkey’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
The measure, which took effect this Monday and is valid until July 3, affects flights at Sulemania International Airport, controlled by the regional government of Iraqi Kurdistan, where alleged “terrorists” have infiltrated and threaten air security.
Given Ankara’s decision, Turkey’s flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, has suspended its flights to Sulemania from Wednesday morning “until further notice,” a company official told 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 classifies it as a “terrorist” organization, as well as the European Union and the United States.
Over the years, Ankara has cultivated close ties with Iraqi Kurdistan and has several military outposts in the region, where it regularly attacks suspected PKK enclaves.
Source: DN
