Tukey closes airspace to flights from Iraqi Kurdistan region
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The decision has been effective since January and is expected to remain so till July.
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Travelers line up to check in at the Irbil International Airport, in Iraq, Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
It was revealed today that the Turkish airspace has been closed for all flights from Iraq's Suleymaniyah airport, in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, due to tensions with the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the region.
"Turkish airspace has been closed to aircraft which land/take off at Iraq’s Sulaymaniyah International Airport as of 3 April. The decision was taken upon the intensification of PKK terrorist organization's activities in Sulaymaniyah, infiltration by the terrorist organization into the airport and thus threatening of flight safety," Minister Tanju Bilgic of the Turkish Foreign Minister.
Initially, the decision was announced to be valid until July however it was noted that Ankara will deliberate in accord with developments.
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