Turkish Airlines cancels flights to southeastern Şırnak amid clashes

ŞIRNAK - Doğan News Agency

DHA Photo

Turkish Airlines has announced on its website that flights to Turkey’s southeastern Şırnak province will be cancelled for a second day on Dec. 16 amid curfews and clashes.

“Flights listed below have been cancelled due to operational reasons,” the airlines announced in a message to its customers with tickets to Şırnak.

Flights between Şırnak, Istanbul and Ankara were all cancelled for a second day amid a military-imposed curfew and clashes between security forces and militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Entry and exit to Şırnak’s Cizre and Silopi districts were also banned while the Habur border gate to Iraq was closed as part of the security measures. 

Meanwhile, armored vehicles were deployed to hills around Cizre.

The Silk Way trade route, which passes through both Cizre and Silopi, was also closed by government forces. 

Many people have already fled Cizre in fear of the renewed clashes. Those who fled include teachers, who received a text message from authorities that they should undertake “occupational training” in their hometowns.

 The move was interpreted by many as a call for teachers to leave Cizre before a punishing security operation.