Egypt’s aviation authorities announced on Tuesday that EgyptAir flights to Iraq’s capital Baghdad will be suspended for three days as of Wednesday over security concerns.
“Due to the current circumstances and the instability of the security situation, Baghdad bound EgyptAir flights will be suspended as of Wednesday until Friday,” the spokesman for the Civil Aviation Ministry, Basem Abdel-Karim, said in a statement.
The move is aimed at preserving the safety of passengers and planes until the security situation stabilizes,” the statement said.
Tension has been high in Iraq after a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad airport on Friday killed Qassem Soleimani.
Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, the deputy head of Iraq’s Shiite militia Hashd al-Shaabi, along with several other Iran-allied militiamen.
The strike was condemned by Iraqi officials and caused anger among the Iraqi people.
The Iraqi parliament has called for the expulsion of U.S. and foreign troops from the country.
U.S. plans to build airfield for strategic bombers in Iraq
