Barzani the de facto Governor of Erdogan requests Russia avoid Kurdish airspace for Syria missions

December 7, 2015 By administrator

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kareem Sinjari, the interior minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), met with Russian Consul General to Erbil Victor Simakov on Monday to hold talks regarding Kurdistan suspending flights at the Erbil and Sulaimani airports as Russian jets fly over the region on missions to Syria.

Sinjari reportedly asked Simakov to request Moscow find an alternate route for its aircraft and cruise missiles that avoids using the Kurdistan region’s airspace.

Simakov promised to discuss the matter with the Russian government and said that currently there is no other way for Moscow to avoid Kurdish airspace.

Additionally, Simakov told Rudaw that during the meeting the KRG interior minister was informed of the arrival of Russian military aid to Kurdish Peshmerga forces, including light weapons.

In terms of supporting Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the fight against the self-claimed Islamic State, several countries have delivered military assistance to the Kurdistan region, but this is the first time Russia has done so.

On Sunday the Baghdad central government asked that Kurdistan suspend flights at its two airports for 48 hours because Russia is targeting ISIS just across the border in Syria.

This is the second time in less than a month that Kurdistan has suspended all fights at Baghdad’s request due to Russian military action.

Terrorist State of Turkey fighter jets violate Greek national air space today

November 26, 2015 By administrator

A formation of six Turkish fighter jets violated Greek national air space in the northeastern Aegean Thursday, Greek defense officials said.

The Turkish jets entered into Greece’s national air space on one occasion, the defense officials said, adding that two of the aircraft were armed and that one dogfight occurred. In all cases the Turkish jets were chased off by Greek aircraft.

The violations follow a peak in tensions between Turkey and Russia after Turkish fighter jets shot a Russian military jet near the Syrian border.

Turkish jets violate Greek air space

July 15, 2015 By administrator

A formation of six Turkish fighter jets violated Greek national air space in the northeastern, central and southeastern Aegean on Wednesday, defense officials said. Report ekathimerini

The Turkish jets, which were flanked on one side by another aircraft that was not a part of the formation, carried out a total of 20 transgressions, the defense officials said, adding that two of the aircraft were armed and that one dogfight occurred.

In all cases, the Turkish jets were chased off by Greek aircraft.

Greece Protests Planned Turkish Air Maneuvers in Aegean Sea

March 1, 2015 By administrator

ATHENS, Greece

Greece is protesting Turkey’s move to reserve a large chunk of airspace over the Aegean Sea for military maneuvers until the end of the year, a Greek foreign ministry spokesman says.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantinos Koutras says Turkey has unilaterally issued a Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM, reserving an extensive airspace over the Aegean Sea from March 2 to December 31, 2015, for military use.

Greece says the move intrudes into Greek airspace, interferes with traffic to two regional airports and affects two international traffic routes.

Greece’s civil aviation authority has issued a navigational warning stating the Turkish NOTAM is null and void.

Koutras says Greece will take the matter to NATO, the United Nations, the European Union and the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).