logo

Iraq Suspends Air Traffic, Closes Airspace

Iraq Business13-06-2025
By John Lee.
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport has confirmed the suspension of all air traffic and the temporary closure of Iraqi airspace until further notice, citing regional security tensions and the need to safeguard civil aviation.
According to a statement from the Ministry's Media Office, the General Company for Air Navigation Services began a phased clearing of Iraqi airspace early this morning, suspending all inbound, outbound, and overflying flights.
Iraqi Airways has also halted all its flights as a precautionary measure, reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety.
The Ministry emphasised that the decision will remain in effect until a reassessment deems conditions safe for the resumption of operations.
The decision follows Israel's attack on targets in Iran this morning, which has been condemned by the Iraqi government.
(Source: Iraqi Ministry of Transport)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Grid collapse causes widespread power outage across Iraq
Grid collapse causes widespread power outage across Iraq

Rudaw Net

time2 hours ago

  • Rudaw Net

Grid collapse causes widespread power outage across Iraq

Also in Iraq Kirkuk landowners face arrests, lawsuits despite land restitution law Iraqi top court to hear case against Kurdistan electricity prices Iraq arrests seven ISIS suspects in separate operations Iraq, Turkey discuss water crisis amid claims of unmet release commitments A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A nationwide power outage struck Iraq on Monday following a sudden and unexpected failure in the national electricity grid, the electricity ministry said, attributing the blackout to a system overload that led to a complete system shutdown. According to the ministry, the grid abruptly 'lost over 6,000 megawatts, causing a rapid spike in the frequency of generating units and triggering an automatic disconnection across the entire system.' The outage originated in southern Iraq, where an increase in system loads in Babil and Karbala provinces led to the failure of two major power transmission lines - the Musayyib and Babil 400 kV lines - setting off a devastating domino effect. Speaking to Rudaw, Adel Karim, undersecretary at the electricity ministry, confirmed that the failure in Babil and Karbala had a 'cascading impact on power stations in other provinces.' 'Technical teams are currently working on restoring the power, and in the next few hours, the system will gradually return to normal,' he said. Karim further noted that while similar incidents have occurred in the past, 'nothing of this scale has happened in years.' He also emphasized 'the electricity load in Iraq is currently extremely high.' The strain on the grid comes as millions of pilgrims make their way to Karbala for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, which commemorates the end of the 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. In 2024, Arbaeen drew a record 21.5 million pilgrims, according to Karbala's holy shrine directorate. This year's pilgrimage is set to culminate in Karbala on August 15. Ziyad Ismail contributed to this report.

Iraq's Al-Sudani with Iranian Security Chief: Security memorandum sealed
Iraq's Al-Sudani with Iranian Security Chief: Security memorandum sealed

Shafaq News

time3 hours ago

  • Shafaq News

Iraq's Al-Sudani with Iranian Security Chief: Security memorandum sealed

Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met on Monday with Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, overseeing a new security memorandum on border coordination. According to a statement from al-Sudani's media office, the prime minister reaffirmed Iraq's commitment to strengthening relations with Iran and advancing joint partnerships 'in a manner that serves the interests of both the Iraqi and Iranian peoples.' He reiterated Iraq's firm stance in rejecting 'Zionist [Israeli] aggression' against Iran and any actions that could escalate regional or international conflicts, while expressing support for dialogue between Washington and Tehran. Larijani, for his part, conveyed the greetings of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and affirmed his government's determination to foster cooperation in various fields. He highlighted plans to establish a passenger railway connection between the two countries, linking it to Iraq's planned Development Road and major transport corridors emerging in the region. The meeting resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Iraq's National Security Adviser and Larijani to enhance security coordination along the countries' shared border. Earlier today, Larijani arrived in Baghdad for a two-day official visit. According to Iran's official news agency IRNA, he will consult with Iraq's three presidencies, State of Law Coalition Leader Nouri Al-Maliki, and other political figures. Plans also include a possible meeting with the country's leading Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

Source: Iran's Larijani in Baghdad to reshape Axis of Resistance
Source: Iran's Larijani in Baghdad to reshape Axis of Resistance

Shafaq News

time3 hours ago

  • Shafaq News

Source: Iran's Larijani in Baghdad to reshape Axis of Resistance

Shafaq News – Baghdad Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani arrived in Baghdad for a two-day visit focused on restructuring the 'Axis of Resistance' and boosting Iraq's role in regional stability, an informed source confirmed to Shafaq News on Monday. According to the source, Larijani aims to ''reorganize the regional alliance after a period of weakened leadership, with efforts to formalize protocols for this process.'' His talks with Iraqi officials will also cover the urgent formation of a government to stabilize Iraq and the wider region. A meeting with Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, is not planned. Earlier today, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani oversaw the signing of a security memorandum of understanding with Larijani, further reaffirming Iraq's backing of dialogue between the United States and Iran. Larijani's visit comes amid heightened political maneuvering in Baghdad, as US officials press the Iraqi government to reject the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Authority law, which would formalize and expand the powers of the paramilitary coalition that includes several Iran-aligned factions.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store