No foreign presence at Sulaimani airports, says Iraqi security official

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An Iraqi security committee on Sunday confirmed that there is no “foreign presence” at Sulaimani’s two airports that are accused by Turkey of fostering Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)-linked elements.

Iraq’s National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji was in Sulaimani leading a delegation to evaluate implementation of a security pact between Iran and Iraq regarding armed Kurdish-Iranian groups along the border. He also met with Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani to discuss frequent airstrikes on alleged PKK positions, including at Sulaimani’s international and Arbat airports, that are blamed on Turkey.

“We confirm that the two airports are free of any foreign presence (military or civilian), and that the two airports are under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Authority, with the full presence of the federal and regional institutions in the two airports in a legal and proper manner,” Araji wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 

Turkey is accused of recently intensified its attacks on alleged PKK targets in Sulaimani province where Ankara believes the group has a growing influence. 

A September 18 drone strike on Arbat airport, 27 kilometers southeast of Sulaimani, killed three members of the province’s counter-terror force. Ankara did not claim responsibility for the strike, but asserted that members of the Syria-based People’s Protection Units (YPG) were receiving training at the airport, which confirms “the accuracy of the measures” Turkey has taken against Sulaimani. 

Turkey is also accused of carrying out deadly drone strikes on busy main roads in the province. And since April 3, Turkey has banned flights from Sulaimani from its airspace.

Talabani called on Baghdad to address these attacks “seriously” and take steps to bring an end to the violations that have “victimized” civilians of the Kurdistan Region over the years, according to a statement from his office. 

Both Araji and Talabani stressed the need for respecting Iraq’s sovereignty and protecting the Kurdistan Region’s airspace. They urged more cooperation between the Kurdish and Iraqi security forces.