Turkey closes airspace to flights to and from Suleimaniyah in Iraq

Closure could remain in place until July 3

Smoke billows from behind mountains in Chiladze after a Turkish offensive against rebels in the Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region in April last year. AFP

Turkey has closed its airspace to flights to and from the northern Iraqi city of Suleimaniyah, saying that there was increased activity by the Kurdistan Workers Party, which it considers a terrorist group.

The airspace will be closed until at least June 3, when it will be reviewed in light of developments, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said, adding that the measure is expected to remain in place until July 3.

The closure was in response to an alleged increase in the activities of the PKK in Suleimaniyah as well as its “infiltration” into the airport, Mr Bilgic said in a statement.

The decision comes weeks after two helicopters crashed in northern Iraq, killing Kurdish militants on board. The incident fuelled claims that the PKK was in possession of helicopters, which infuriated Turkish authorities.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also said that Turkey will not allow a "terror group" to "nest" in the area.

Mr Kalin said Turkey is "closely following" a recent helicopter crash in Iraq in which at least five people were killed, including — Turkey says — PKK militants. He said Ankara will look into the incident, as well as who provided and piloted the aircraft.

The PKK has been waging an insurgency against Turkey since the 1980s and is considered a terrorist group by Ankara, the US and the EU. Its militants have established safe havens in northern Iraq and frequently come under attack by Turkey in the region.

For years Turkey has maintained military bases in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region and launched military operations against the PKK.