Kurdistan to reopen Erbil routes to Kirkuk, Makhmour
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdistan Region is set to reopen the Erbil-Kirkuk and Erbil-Makhmour roads and all the closed roads next week.
“At the beginning of next week, the Erbil-Kirkuk, Erbil-Makhmour roads and all the roads related to the livelihoods of the people will be reopened,” Kemal Kirkuki, commander of the Peshmerga’s Western Kirkuk front, told Rudaw.
“The Peshmerga forces will remain in their places to protect the areas,” he added.
The Erbil-Kirkuk and Erbil-Makhmour roads were officially closed after clashes between the Peshmerga forces and Iraqi forces with Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi last October.
The road closures have caused many problems. People living in Makhmour have complained about difficulties accessing healthcare and having to take indirect routes, traveling on secondary roads.
While the Kurdish authorities have pledged to reopen the roads, Iraqi officials have not immediately made a similar announcement.
“We will open the roads on our side, and the rest rests with them,” Kirkuki explained.
Erbil’s provincial council met on Tuesday and unanimously decided to send an official letter asking the KRG’s Council of Ministers to enter talks with Iraq concerning the closed roads.
According to Tariq Nuri, head of Erbil’s Asayesh (security force), the KRG is not the factor keeping the roads closed. The Iraqi government must take steps to reopen them, he said.
The Duhok-Mosul road was reopened this week after a decision by the governor of Nineveh, allowing the resumption of trade.
“At the beginning of next week, the Erbil-Kirkuk, Erbil-Makhmour roads and all the roads related to the livelihoods of the people will be reopened,” Kemal Kirkuki, commander of the Peshmerga’s Western Kirkuk front, told Rudaw.
“The Peshmerga forces will remain in their places to protect the areas,” he added.
The Erbil-Kirkuk and Erbil-Makhmour roads were officially closed after clashes between the Peshmerga forces and Iraqi forces with Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi last October.
The road closures have caused many problems. People living in Makhmour have complained about difficulties accessing healthcare and having to take indirect routes, traveling on secondary roads.
While the Kurdish authorities have pledged to reopen the roads, Iraqi officials have not immediately made a similar announcement.
“We will open the roads on our side, and the rest rests with them,” Kirkuki explained.
Erbil’s provincial council met on Tuesday and unanimously decided to send an official letter asking the KRG’s Council of Ministers to enter talks with Iraq concerning the closed roads.
According to Tariq Nuri, head of Erbil’s Asayesh (security force), the KRG is not the factor keeping the roads closed. The Iraqi government must take steps to reopen them, he said.
The Duhok-Mosul road was reopened this week after a decision by the governor of Nineveh, allowing the resumption of trade.