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Starting today the Iraqi government has closed airspace in its northern Kurdistan region to international flights.
According to statement released by the Iraqi government, the no-fly zone is in effect over an area officially controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government including Sulaymaniyah, Erbil, and Dohuk.
The Iraqi Air Force has a right to shoot down any aircraft that is flying over this region without permission.
Iraq threatened to implement a no-fly zone in the Iraqi Kurdistan airspace after the Independence referendum, which took place on September 25.
Baghdad considers the referendum unconstitutional, and had previously issued an order surrender the control over the airports in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah to Baghdad.
