ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq on Wednesday reopened its airspace to flights after 40 days of closure, following a temporary US-Iran ceasefire. 

“The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announces the opening of the airspace and all Iraqi airports,” Bangen Rekani, acting head of the authority and Iraqi Minister of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works, said on X. 

Ahmed Hoshyar, director of the Erbil International Airport, confirmed the reopening of the airspace, telling The New Region that “Iraq’s airspace has been reopened for flights.” 

The announcement came after US President Donald Trump said he had accepted a Pakistani proposal for a bilateral ceasefire, which was confirmed by Iran shortly afterward, effectively halting the war for two weeks.

Iraq’s airspace had been closed since February 28, when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

Throughout March and into early April, authorities continued to extend the closure.

The US-Israeli war on Iran saw daily strikes on Iraq, especially near Baghdad and Erbil airports, carried out by Iran and pro-Iran militia groups under the pretext of targeting US interests. 

On Wednesday, the Iran-aligned Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it will suspend its attacks against US interests in Iraq and the region for two weeks, concurrent with the ceasefire announcement.