Pentagon says Iraqi flight ban won’t impact US military assistance to Kurds
US arms are getting through to the peshmerga, but crucial aid contractors are getting held up.
Iraq’s ban on international flights to the Kurdistan Region is having no impact on US military and humanitarian aid to the embattled Kurds, Pentagon officials told Al-Monitor.
Regional airlines are abiding by last month’s order from Iraq’s Transport Ministry to reroute international flights to Erbil and Sulaimaniyah through Baghdad, despite disruptions to passengers and cargo. But airports in both Kurdish cities remain open for domestic flights from Baghdad, giving the United States a lifeline to provide weapons and other supplies to Erbil.
