Iraq lifts restrictions on civilian use of western airspace

BAGHDAD: Iraq said on ‌Friday it had returned restricted airspace in the western part of the country to civilian authorities, ending limits that ​had been in place for military operations since 2016, the transport ministry said in a statement. The ministry said all previously reserved zones stretching across western Iraq from north to south had been handed over to the authority responsible for airports and air navigation for use by civil ‌aviation. The move is ‌expected to give Iraqi ​aviatio