Iraq responds to news of closing the country's airspace and imposing restrictions on air traffic

On Friday, the Iraqi authorities responded to circulating news that Iraqi airspace had been closed or new restrictions had been imposed on aircraft crossing it. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that it “denies what has been circulated regarding the issuance of a navigation notice (NOTAM) that includes imposing temporary restrictions and specifying mandatory flight paths on all aircraft crossing Iraqi airspace.”, according to what was reported by the Iraqi “INA” news agency.

She explained that "the information circulating in this regard is inaccurate," and added that "air traffic is subject to approved official navigation procedures and instructions." It called on the media and social networking sites to "exercise accuracy in conveying information, and to adopt the statements issued by their official sources." For its part, the Iraqi Army's Security Media Cell confirmed on Friday that the security conditions throughout the country are stable and there are no restrictions on air traffic.

The Security Media Cell stated that “the competent security authorities deny what was circulated by some media outlets and social media platforms regarding the closure of Iraqi airspace in anticipation of possible security events or developments,” stressing that “this news is inaccurate and does not reflect the reality of the measures taken.”, according to the “INA” agency. The Security Media Cell explained, "What happened was that a very limited air space was designated for purely training purposes as part of the annual firing event carried out by the Air Defense Command of its various weapons. This does not represent a closure of Iraqi airspace or a restriction of air traffic in general." This comes amid continued threats between Iran and the United States regarding the possibility of renewed mutual strikes between the two countries, after the midterm elections for the US Congress.