US urges Iraq to reroute civilian flights; airspace stays open

The United States military has asked Iraqi authorities to divert civilian aircraft away from specific air corridors for security reasons, a security source said on April 9, adding that the measure does not amount to a closure of Baghdad International Airport or Iraq’s airspace.

The source said the airport remains fully operational and no Iraqi directive has been issued to shut national airspace, Caliber.Az reports via Iraqi media

The request, it added, is limited to rerouting civilian traffic away from designated areas “to ensure aviation safety”.

Iraqi authorities did not immediately comment on the request.

The development comes one day after Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority reopened the country’s airspace and resumed civilian flights on April 8, following what officials described as improved security conditions after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Iraq had previously closed its airspace for around 40 days during a period of regional military escalation.

By Aghakazim Guliyev