The Iraqi Government cut autonomous Kurdistan's direct air links with the outside world indefinitely on Friday Sep 29,2017, partially isolating the northern region after it voted a massive "yes" in an independence referendum.
The move increases the pressure on the Iraqi Kurds amid soaring regional tensions following Monday's non-binding but deeply contentious vote.
The central government in Baghdad had ordered the halt to all foreign flights to and from the region from 6:00 pm (1500 GMT)
Foreigners scrambled to fly out of Iraqi Kurdistan from the region's capital Erbil and its second largest city Sulaimaniyah before the ban took effect.
Iraqi Kurdish transport minister Mawlud Bawa Murad told at Erbil airport that the flight ban would "negatively impact all international businesses in the Kurdistan Region, in addition to all civilians, from all nations".
It would "negatively impact our daily life," he said. "We will do our best to find a viable alternative, or succeed to bring back international flights."
Erbil airport is a key gateway for humanitarian aid workers helping Iraqis affected by the battle against the Islamic State group (IS).
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