Authorities reopen main Erbil-Makhmour road
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Erbil-Makhmour road was reopened on Monday after a half-year closure.
Makhmour Mayor Rizgar Mohammed told Rudaw the road was opened on Monday morning from the Iraqi and Kurdish sides.
Mohammed added “the Kurdistan Regional Government had decided to open the road a month ago, but at that time, the Iraqi government had not agreed.”
Makhmour Mayor Rizgar Mohammed told Rudaw the road was opened on Monday morning from the Iraqi and Kurdish sides.
Mohammed added “the Kurdistan Regional Government had decided to open the road a month ago, but at that time, the Iraqi government had not agreed.”
Locals told Rudaw that the Iraqi forces did not require anything out of the ordinary at the checkpoint.
"This is a very good thing," said an older man.
Kurdish people told Rudaw they visited the mayor's office without trouble, but the mayor told them he does not have the required supplies to function.
"It takes three minutes to get to Makhmour now," said another man, referring to going through the checkpoint.
The road was closed following clashes between Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army supported by Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries after the October 16 events.
Barzani explained there were discussions with the Iraqi forces and they have agreed to reopen the road.
The town of Makhmour is part of the disputed or Kurdistani areas claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil. It is 60 kilometers southwest of Erbil city.
Makhmour, given its strategic location between Kirkuk and Mosul, saw clashes on October 24 between Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces and paramilitaries. The Iraqi army and Peshmerga previously shared a military base their during the ISIS conflict, along with a US-led coalition presence.
"This is a very good thing," said an older man.
Kurdish people told Rudaw they visited the mayor's office without trouble, but the mayor told them he does not have the required supplies to function.
"It takes three minutes to get to Makhmour now," said another man, referring to going through the checkpoint.
The reopening of the road will be in the interest of civilians, Sirwan Barzani, the commander of Peshmerga forces on the Makhmour-Gwer front, told Rudaw.
The road was closed following clashes between Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army supported by Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries after the October 16 events.
Barzani explained there were discussions with the Iraqi forces and they have agreed to reopen the road.
The closure of the direct route has resulted in hardship for the population of the now militarized town, with some dying while trying to use more dangerous paths full of potholes to reach medical facilities in Erbil city.
The town of Makhmour is part of the disputed or Kurdistani areas claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil. It is 60 kilometers southwest of Erbil city.
Makhmour, given its strategic location between Kirkuk and Mosul, saw clashes on October 24 between Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces and paramilitaries. The Iraqi army and Peshmerga previously shared a military base their during the ISIS conflict, along with a US-led coalition presence.
The reopening of the Mosul-Duhok highway increased tourism during the recent Newroz holiday.
The main Kirkuk-Erbil road is still closed as well following the clashes in Pirde (Altun Kupri). The KRG says it is ready to open all roads.