Iraq to reopen airspace starting Wednesday after US-Iran ceasefire announcement

Iraq will reopen its airspace starting Wednesday following the announcement of a ceasefire between the US and Iran, the country's Civil Aviation Authority said.

The authority confirmed the reopening of the airspace beginning today, according to the Iraqi News Agency.

The decision follows weeks of closure imposed as a precaution amid escalating regional conflict, with officials repeatedly citing security risks to civilian aviation.

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he agreed "to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

The announcement came less than two hours before a deadline Trump had set for Iran to reopen the strait and accept an agreement or face what he described as the destruction of "an entire civilization."

Regional tensions escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,400 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. It has also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.