Emirates, flydubai cancel flights to Iraq’s capital

By Viola Fahmy

ABU DHABI (AA) - Emirates Airlines and flydubai on Wednesday canceled their flights to Iraq’s capital Baghdad amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

The move came after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq.

The missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases where U.S. military and coalition personnel are stationed following the killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani last week.

Emirates cited safety of passengers and flight crew members as a reason for flights cancelation.

Flydubai, for its part, also announced cancelling its flights to Baghdad, and said: "Our flights to Basra and Najaf will operate this morning.”

Egypt Air, Royal Jordanian Airlines and Bahrain’s Gulf Air have already suspended flights to the Iraqi capital.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat