Iraq to repatriate stranded citizens
Shafaq News/ Iraq will begin emergency repatriation flights on Tuesday for nationals stranded in Lebanon, Turkiye, and Georgia, amid airspace closures caused by the Iran-Israel war, Transport Minister Razzaq al-Saadawi confirmed on Monday.
Al-Saadawi told Shafaq News that Cyprus had granted overflight permission to Iraqi carriers, allowing evacuation flights to proceed via Basra International Airport.
The move follows growing appeals from stranded Iraqis abroad. In response, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered the formation of an emergency task force to coordinate the evacuations and manage logistics across affected routes.
Iraq closed its airspace on June 13 following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory and Iran's retaliatory launch of ballistic and hypersonic projectiles toward Israeli cities.
The closure has disrupted civilian air traffic across the Middle East, with global carriers forced to reroute or suspend flights. Iraq's suspension in particular halted transit through a key corridor connecting Europe and the Gulf, compounding delays for nationals and foreign carriers.
Iraq has not yet announced when it will reopen its airspace to commercial traffic, though officials indicated the decision depends on the evolution of the conflict.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
11 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
G7 urges Israel-Iran de-escalation as Trump blocks joint statement
Shafaq News/ On Monday, G7 leaders urged an immediate de-escalation between Israel and Iran, warning that continued hostilities risk destabilizing the Middle East and disrupting global energy markets. In a draft communiqué circulated at the summit, the bloc cautioned that military escalation 'jeopardizes regional peace' and threatens energy security worldwide. While reaffirming Israel's right to self-defense, the text called for restraint from all sides to prevent further deterioration. However, US President Donald Trump withheld support for the document in its current form. Trump, who had previously rejected Israeli calls for preemptive strikes on Iran, shifted tone after Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, later backing the campaign as a 'legitimate deterrent' to Tehran's nuclear ambitions. European leaders, by contrast, have emphasized diplomacy: - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the summit reflected 'clear consensus' on the urgency of de-escalation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that Iran 'must never acquire nuclear weapons,' reiterating Berlin's support for Israel's security within the bounds of international law. - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen disclosed that she had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prioritize diplomacy, calling a negotiated solution 'the only viable path forward.' - French President Emmanuel Macron echoed the message, pressing Iran to resume talks with the United States and avoid steps that could deepen the crisis. - Japan, which traditionally maintains balanced ties with both Tehran and Tel Aviv, took a rare stance, condemning Israel's airstrikes as 'unacceptable and deeply regrettable.' Host nation Canada opted to release a Chair's Summary rather than a unified final communiqué—marking a break from precedent and reflecting divisions that surfaced in previous summits, including the 2018 G7 in Quebec.
Shafaq News
11 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
IRGC Strikes launch Site of Israeli attack on IRIB
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had targeted the base from which an Israeli airstrike was launched against the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) building in Tehran. Earlier, Israel carried out an air raid that struck the IRIB headquarters during a live broadcast, triggering chaos inside the studio and forcing the anchor off-air. Reports indicated casualties among media personnel, while the station resumed broadcasting shortly after the strike. The Israeli military said it had struck two Iranian F-14 fighter jets at an airport in Tehran, confirming drone attacks on the airport, a communications center, and the IRIB building, which it claimed was used for military purposes. Additional strikes targeted sites in central and western Iran, while Iranian forces reported downing several Israeli drones, as the conflict entered its fifth day amid intensifying exchanges.
Shafaq News
11 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Turkish shelling ignites farms in Duhok
Shafaq News/ On Monday, a large-scale fire broke out in northern Duhok province following Turkish artillery shelling targeting positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Eyewitnesses told Shafaq News that the fire swept through farmlands and forested areas in the Nahili region of Amedi district, north of the province, as a result of the shelling. They added that the flames are still burning and continue to spread toward new areas, while civil defense teams are struggling to contain the blaze due to ongoing security tensions and the difficulty of reaching the affected sites.
