An Iraqi parliamentary transportation committee member revealed that Turkey’s blockade of Sulaymaniyah Airport is a political move.
Karwan Yarwais, a member of the Iraqi House of Representatives’ Transportation Committee, shared with Channel8 that discussions with Baghdad aviation officials confirmed the suspension of flights to Sulaymaniyah Airport.
Yarwais noted that the Turkish civil aviation authorities were unaware of the decision, attributing it instead to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
He mentioned that the Turkish ambassador admitted to having political issues with Sulaymaniyah.
Turkey initially closed its airspace to Sulaymaniyah Airport on April 3, 2023, extending the closure twice for six months. On June 8, the Iraqi government also decided to close its airspace to Sulaymaniyah for six months.
