SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq
Iraq seems to have stepped up its confrontation with the semi-autonomous Kurdish region by banning cargo planes from landing at airports on Kurdish territory.
The Iraqi Civil Aviation Council, a government-controlled agency, has withdrawn permission for cargo aircraft to land at Erbil or Sulaymaniyah airports, it confirmed to the Anadolu Agency.
Sulaymaniyah airport’s General Director Tahir Abdullah said: “This decision will cause serious damage to the Kurdistan region’s economy.” Last year Erbil airport handled more than 38,500 tonnes of freight.
Tension between the Baghdad government and the Kurdish Regional Government has risen over the past fortnight as the Kurdish Regional Government moves closer to independence.
Kurdish hopes for an independent state have been bolstered by Baghdad’s surrender of large parts of northern Iraq as ISIL militant forces seized cities. In certain areas, such as oil-rich Kirkuk, Kurdish peshmerga forces moved in to prevent ISIL occupation.
www.aa.com.tr/en
