ICAA: Attacks on Sulaymaniyah Airports are Political & Require Resolution

Kurdistan 11:38 AM - 2023-11-02

Sulaymaniyah International Airport and ICAA logo

Investigations conducted by the Iraqi parliament and government indicate that neither foreign military personnel nor civilians were observed at Sulaymaniyah or Arbat airports, both of which operate under the jurisdiction of the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) and adhere to its rules and directives. 

According to an ICAA spokesman, all airports in the Kurdistan Region are civilian and serve the local population, and there were no foreigners at either airport.

The attack on Sulaymaniyah airports violates Iraqi sovereignty

"After multiple visits by our committee to both the Sulaymaniyah and Arbat airports, it became clear that the attacks based on the pretext of the presence of foreigners on the airports have no basis other than violating the sovereignty of Iraqi territory," Harem Kamal Agha, a member of the Iraqi parliament's Security and Defence Committee, told PUKMEDIA. 

"Following two visits to both airports, the committee appointed by Iraq's prime minister discovered that neither foreign military personnel nor civilians were present," he added. This information has since been communicated to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani by the committee." 

"Both committees have urged neighboring countries to respect Iraq's sovereignty and the Iraqi government to prevent future violations of its territory and airspace under any pretext," he added.

ICAA spokesman: Kurdistan Region's airports are civilian

"The attacks on the airports in the Kurdistan Region are political and must be resolved," ICAA spokesman Jihad Kadhim told PUKMEDIA. 

Additionally, according to spokesman Kadhim, the airports in the Kurdistan Region are under the surveillance of the ICAA and are used solely for civilian purposes; no military operations are conducted there.

Iraq's National Security Advisor: The airports are devoid of any foreign presence

Iraq's National Security Advisor Qasim Al-Araji announced on his (X) platform account that Prime Minister Muhammad Shia' Al-Sudani's committee had visited the Sulaymaniyah and Arbat airports to investigate the incidents. 

Al-Araji continued and stated, "The ICAA is responsible for the oversight of both airports, and all federal and regional institutions are lawfully present at both." 

On April 6, 2023, the Turkish government halted all flights over Turkish airspace to Sulaymaniyah Airport. Sulaymaniyah International Airport was attacked a day after the decision was made.  
Furthermore, on September 18, 2023, three members of the Peshmerga and Counter Terrorism Group—Hiwa Qadir, Ivan Adnan, and Rabar Anwar—were martyred when a Turkish drone attacked Arbat Airport under the pretext of the presence of foreign military personnel.




PUKMEDIA