Iraq Closes Airspace for 72 Hours Over Security Concerns

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's civil aviation authority ordered the temporary closure of the country's airspace for 72 hours starting Sunday, suspending all commercial flights in and out of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The decision resulted from ongoing assessments of the domestic security environment, according to a statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency. Officials said the measure was intended to protect civil aviation and passengers from rapidly increasing military activities and cross-border tensions in the region. The Civil Aviation Authority said the closure duration would be subject to technical reviews based on real-time security data. The authority added that updates and operational notifications would be provided to global airlines and international transit organizations as conditions in the region evolve. No further details on when the airspace might reopen were immediately available.