Iraq ends flight ban over its western regions after nearly a decade of military restrictions - Sarmad

Iraq’s Ministry of Transport announced on Friday the lifting of the air ban imposed over vast areas in the west of the country and their handover to the relevant civilian authorities, a move that ends restrictions in place since 2016.

The ministry stated that the areas in western Iraq previously reserved for military use, stretching from north to south, have become available for civil aviation following their transfer to the General Company for Airport and Air Navigation Management.

Ahab Saad Karim, the company’s general manager, clarified that the air traffic management team at the Air Operations Center officially confirmed that the military zones listed in the Iraqi Aeronautical Information Publication are no longer being used for military operations.

Speaking at a press conference, he added that the lifting of the restrictions was coordinated with the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and followed years of institutional and technical efforts aimed at improving the efficiency and smoothness of air traffic.

According to Karim, the move will enable Iraqi aviation authorities to redesign air routes and establish new civil aviation corridors, thereby easing restrictions on aircraft movements, boosting revenues, and enhancing the utilization of airspace.

These areas had been designated for military operations against the “Daesh” (ISIS) organization in 2016 and 2017, when parts of Iraq’s western desert were utilized for those operations.

Hussein Ahmed, the Ministry of Transport’s spokesperson, said that the necessary technical and regulatory procedures to fully implement the decision will be completed by October 1. He noted that the lifting of restricted and prohibited zones is part of the arrangements for the withdrawal of the International Coalition forces from Iraq and the handover of Iraqi airspace to Iraqi authorities.