Iraq to reopen airports to international flights July 23

Iraq will reopen its airports to international commercial flights on July 23 as it eases coronavirus-related lockdown measures, state media reported Thursday. 

The decision also affects airports within the Kurdistan Region, which operate under federal authority.

As part of efforts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority on March 17 banned commercial passenger flights. The ban was extended multiple times as the virus continued to spread quickly throughout the country.