After the referendum held in Southern Kurdistan, the Iraqi central government insisted that the regional government “turn over control of border gates and airports”, which Hewlêr refused. Baghdad has now announced that international flights to and from Hewlêr and Sulaymaniyah will be suspended.

Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority has issued notices to international airlines that flights to and from Hewlêr and Sulaymaniyah will be suspended on Friday. The notices state that only domestic flights will be permitted.

Following the announcement, the Middle Eastern Airlines (MEA) based in Lebanon announced that they are halting the Hewlêr route. Pegasus Airlines based in Turkey also announced they will no longer be flying to Hewlêr.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar Ebadi had held a press statement on the day of the referendum and said, “In case border controls are not turned over to Baghdad in 3 days time, we will halt all international flights into and out of the Kurdish region.”

Southern Kurdistan’s Minister of Transportation Mevlûd Bavêmurad had stated that they do not accept this imposition and that airports should be left out of political matters.