'Fully returned to normal'

Baghdad reopens airspace, resumes flights after Israel strikes Iran

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Transportation reopened the nation’s airspace and resumed flights at all Iraqi airports on Saturday following a temporary suspension after Israeli air strikes on Iran.

Transportation Minister Razzaq Muhibis Al-Saadawi confirmed that “air traffic has fully returned to normal across all Iraqi airports.” The flight halt was imposed as a precaution in response to regional tensions sparked by Israeli strikes on missile manufacturing sites and military bases in Iran, including targets in Tehran. These strikes were in retaliation for an October 1 missile attack by Iran. Israel warned Iran would “pay a heavy price” if it retaliated.

The ministry’s media office stated that after assessing and mitigating all potential threats to civil aviation, the minister directed the reopening of Iraqi airspace to all incoming, outgoing, and transit flights. The General Company for Airports and Air Navigation has resumed full operations, overseeing arrivals, departures, and transit flights.

Iraqi Airways also announced the resumption of flights to all destinations, aligning with the reopening of airspace. The ministry had initially halted flights to prioritize passenger safety, gradually clearing Iraqi airspace until regional tensions subsided.

Iran, which temporarily suspended flights following Israel’s strikes, also announced that flights would return to normal from 9 a.m. local time on Saturday, according to the country’s Civil Aviation Organization, as reported by IRNA.