On September 29, 2026, the United States completed its military withdrawal from Iraq, ending the 12-year Operation Inherent Resolve counter-ISIS mission as Baghdad declared a new era of sovereignty, though security concerns over militias and foreign forces remain.
Airports in Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil, and Sulaimaniyah suspended Iranian flights as the United States expanded sanctions pressure on Iran's aviation sector. The action reflects a coordinated effort to isolate Iran's air travel capabilities.
Iraq suspended flights from Iran to Baghdad effective midnight September 23, 2026, following U.S. threats of sanctions against airport service providers. The move reflects growing U.S. pressure on Iraq's aviation ties to Iran.