Iraqis hold countrywide rallies against suspension of Iranian flights
Iraqi people from every walk of life have held protests across the country to condemn the government’s decision to suspend all flights to and from Iran.
The protests took place on Monday, days after the United States announced new aviation sanctions on global companies doing business with Iranian airlines.
Hundreds of demonstrators converged outside Najaf International Airport and demanded resumption of commercial flights between the two neighboring Muslim countries, as some participants waved Iraqi and Iranian national flags, as well as those of the anti-terror resistance movement Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba.
Some protesters also held up portraits of martyred Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Seyed Ali Khamenei and Iran's late top anti-terror commander, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, in a show of unwavering solidarity with Iran.
Iraqis gather outside Najaf Airport to protest the suspension of flights to Iran.
— PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) September 28, 2026
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Residents of the southern city of Nasiriyah, situated about 360 kilometers (225 miles) southeast of the capital Baghdad, also took to the streets in protest at the suspension of flights to and from Iran from all four Iraqi airports at which they were operating — Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.
They censured the Baghdad government’s alignment with the US aerial blockade against Iran.
Residents of Nasiriyah, southern Iraq, protest the government’s alignment with the US blockade against Iran.
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A similar rally was also staged in the holy city of Karbala, where participants condemned the halt of Iranian flights to Iraq.
Karbala residents also protested the Iraqi government’s decision to suspend Iranian flights at the US’ request.
— PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) September 28, 2026
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Elsewhere in the southeastern province of Maysan, a large number of demonstrators gathered on the streets of the city of Amarah in opposition to the flight suspensions.
Residents of Maysan, southeastern Iraq, also joined protests against the suspension of Iranian flights at the country’s airports.
— PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) September 28, 2026
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Commercial air travel between Iraq and Iran came to a halt on Friday, as ground-handling firms stopped offering their services on these routes due to worries about possible sanctions from the US Treasury Department, prompting airlines to cancel their flight operations.
Najaf International Airport, which served as Iraq's last aviation center enabling flights to Iran, halted all such services starting at 2 a.m. local time on Friday (2300 GMT Thursday) until further notice, according to an official announcement from the airport.
Subsequently, Erbil International Airport and Sulaymaniyah International Airport took similar actions, while Kirkuk International Airport reported that there were no flights to Iran available.
On September 8, the Treasury Department enacted sanctions on 27 Iranian airlines and released a warning suggesting that international airports, fuel suppliers, ground-handling companies, and other service providers working with sanctioned airlines could face secondary sanctions.
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