President Barzani convinces Erdogan to remove flight ban on Sulaimani airport

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to lift the flight ban on Sulaimani International Airport at the request of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Kurdistan Post has learned. 

Turkey on Monday extended its flight ban on Sulaimani International Airport for another three months. Turkey imposed a flight ban on the airport on April 3, 2023 in response to an alleged “intensification” of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) activity in Sulaimani province, referring to the crash of two helicopters carrying Syrian Kurdish fighters a month earlier.

A source told Kurdistan Post on the condition of anonymity that President Barzani, who met with Erdogan on Thursday, has convinced the Turkish leader to lift the ban on the airport.

Erdogan asked President Barzani, “Why do you care so much about Sulaimani?” President Barzani replied, “I am the President of Kurdistan Region, and half of me is from Sulaimani.” Erdogan laughed after hearing this, added the source.