Turkish Airlines resumes flights to Arbil but only in daytime

ANKARA

A file photo taken on March 16, 2013 shows a Turkish Airlines aircraft taking off from Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines, one of the key foreign carriers flying to Iraq, on August 8, 2014 said it had halted flights to the main city of Iraqi Kurdistan for security reasons amid an offensive by Islamist jihadists. "Our flights to Arbil are being cancelled for security reasons until further notice," the airline said in a statement. AFP PHOTO/OZAN KOSE

Turkey’s national flag-carrier airline said it resumed flights on August 9 to the Iraqi Kurdish city of Arbil after suspending them for security reasons amid an offensive by Islamist militants.

However Turkish Airlines said in a statement that it would as a continued precaution only be flying to Arbil in daytime hours.

"Our flights to Arbil will resume. Arbil night flights will be shifted to daytime hours," Turkish Airlines said in a statement. 

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways announced on August 9 that it will reroute flights over Iraq in the wake of US air strikes on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters there.

The first US air strikes on August 8 struck ISIL positions and at least one convoy of vehicles carrying militants west of Arbil.