IRBIL, Iraq: All foreign flights to and from the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital Irbil will be suspended from Friday evening on Baghdad’s orders, its airport director said, following a controversial independence referendum.
“All international flights without exception to and from Irbil will stop from 6:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Friday following a decision by the Iraqi cabinet and Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi,” Talar Faiq Salih told AFP on Thursday.
Abadi ordered the halt to flights serving airports in Iraqi Kurdistan in retaliation for the independence referendum held Monday in defiance of Baghdad which delivered a resounding 92.73 “yes” vote.
Regional carriers, including Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir and Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines had already announced that they would be suspending their flights serving Iraqi Kurdistan at Baghdad’s request.
The Irbil airport director said she deeply regretted the decision, which she said would hamper the campaign against the Daesh group in Iraq and neighboring Syria, as well as the delivery of aid to those displaced by it.
“We have consulates, international staff, international companies, so it’s going to affect everyone. It’s not a right decision,” Salih said.
“We have a big international community here, so this is not only against Kurdish people.
“We also have a big number of refugees using this airport and we used to be a bridge between Syria and the UN to send humanitarian aid to those places.
“And we are hosting (US-led) coalition forces here, so this airport is meant to be for everything.”
All foreign flights to Iraq Kurd capital to stop Friday
All foreign flights to Iraq Kurd capital to stop Friday
GCC states ‘face reliance on Saudi Arabia for food imports’
- With 70 percent of food coming through Strait of Hormuz, analysts warn of inevitable shortages
DUBAI: Some Gulf states may have to rely on overland food deliveries from Saudi Arabia if the US-Israel-Iran war continues to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and restrict regional airspace, analysts warned on Thursday.
The region is up to 90 percent dependent on food imports, and price surges and scarcity of some goods are expected.
“With over 70 percent of GCC foodstuffs being imported through the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf states face shortages if the war persists,” said Neil Quilliam of the Chatham House think tank.
“While GCC countries have taken steps to diversify suppliers and ensure sufficient stores to withstand disruption, this can only last several months. At this point, price increases and longer lead times will start to hit the markets.”
Commodities analyst Ishan Bhanu said: “The biggest immediate effect will be due to the blockade of Jebel Ali in Dubai, serving about 50 million people. Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq effectively become landlocked and will depend on overland routes through Saudi Arabia.”
Bottlenecks are yet to show and the UAE has said its strategic reserves of vital goods cover four to six months of needs. It urged residents to report unjustified price increases through a dedicated hotline.
Supermarket staff throughout the Gulf said shelves remain largely stocked, though suppliers are taking longer to replenish certain products. Iran’s strikes on the Gulf since Saturday prompted panic buying in supermarkets, a dry run for what could come.
“Perception of risk matters, and even if stocks are sufficient now, public runs on supermarkets can spook the public,” Quilliam said.
