Iraq's Mosul Int'l Airport resumes domestic flights after 11-year suspension

Iraq's national carrier announced Thursday the resumption of domestic flights at Mosul International Airport, marking its return to operation after an 11-year hiatus following the Islamic State group's capture of the city in 2014. Iraqi Airways confirmed that the first flight from the airport to Baghdad took off in the morning.

The Iraqi Ministry of Transportation noted that the flight proceeded smoothly under Iraqi air traffic control, meeting all safety and infrastructure standards. In a separate statement released by the ministry's media office, Minister of Transport said the launch of domestic flights was the first step, with plans to soon introduce international routes.