Kuwait suspends Iraq flights after attack on Baghdad airport

Kuwait announced the suspension of flights to Iraq for a period of one week starting Sunday, Jan. 30. This came after a rocket attack targeted Baghdad International Airport.

For their part, Iraqi authorities announced an attacker had been arrested.

Kuwait Airways revealed in a statement Saturday that flights to Iraq were temporarily suspended following the instructions from the Kuwaiti Civil Aviation Authority due to the current conditions in Iraq.

Last week, six rockets struck the Baghdad airport damaging two commercial planes belonging to Iraqi Airways, the main national airline. This marked an escalation in rocket and drone attacks often targeting the US and its allies, as well as Iraqi government institutions. The Iran-backed militia groups have been blamed for the attacks.

Iraqi authorities said in a statement late Saturday they had arrested an individual allegedly behind the airport attack. The person was arrested at a checkpoint near the northern province of Kirkuk.

No further details were provided in the statement.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi urged the international community not to impose restrictions on travel to Iraq following the attack. Meanwhile, Iraqi Airways said the attack did not cause any disruptions and flights would continue.