Turkey closes country's airspace for Iraqi Kurdistan

The Iraqi government has decided to close the country's airspace for the Iraqi Kurdistan, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said Monday.

Ankara also suspended flights to Iraqi Kurdistan and halted the broadcasting of a number of the autonomous region's television channels in the country, reported Sputnik.

"It has been considered necessary to recommend closure of Turkey's airspace for northern Iraq. The control over the Ibrahim Halil border checkpoint should be handed over to the Iraqi government," the council's press service said in an October 16 statement.

Turkey, as well as Iran, criticized the Iraqi Kurdistan's bid for independence and voiced support for the country's territorial integrity.

Members of Iraqi federal forces gather to continue to advance in military vehicles in Kirkuk, Iraq

Meanwhile, the Iraqi armed forces managed to capture the strategic positions in Kirkuk region, which held the vote too, despite not being a part of Iraqi Kurdistan.